Montague Wilmot
Encyclopedia
Montague Wilmot was an 18th century British
colonial
Governor
of Nova Scotia
.
. His father was a physician to the Prince of Wales
and his mother was a Montagu
, Wilmot's uncle being George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax
.
It was with the help of these connections that Wilmot probably managed to become an army officer, serving in places such as Gibraltar
in 1745.
In 1749, Louisbourg having been handed back to the French, the British
troops sailed down to Halifax
, to come under the command of Governor Edward Cornwallis
. While it is apparent that many of the troops of Gibraltar left Nova Scotia soon after, Wilmot stayed in Nova Scotia, having achieved the rank of major
.
In 1755, the British was successful in laying siege to Fort Beauséjour
, and with war having officially broken out, Governor Charles Lawrence sent Wilmot, then a lieutenant-colonel, up to Fort Cumberland
(Beauséjour's new name), to act as its commander.
In 1758, Wilmot was in command of a brigade in Louisbourg, and in 1762 was sent to Quebec
.
of Nova Scotia, succeeding Jonathan Belcher
.
Only one year later, in May of 1764, Wilmot was appointed governor of Nova Scotia. It was not a grand time for such an appointment. One example of the province's problems at the time was that Nova Scotia was suffering from great debts and deficits.
By the time of his appointment, Wilmot's health was already deteriorating, having blamed the climate for his sickness. In fact, he had sent an application to ask for a return to the England, but never received a reply.
Governor Wilmot died in 1766 after suffering from a reportedly bad winter. An elaborate funeral service was held for him in Halifax.
Montague Wilmot is one of three men thought to be the namesake of the Montague River on Prince Edward Island
, from which the town of Montague
takes its name.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
Governor
Lieutenant-Governors of Nova Scotia
The following is a list of the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia. Though the present day office of the lieutenant governor in Nova Scotia came into being only upon the province's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1867, the post is a continuation from the first governorship of...
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
Early life
Little is known of Wilmot's origins, such as his exact place of birth, although he was born in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His father was a physician to the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
and his mother was a Montagu
Montagu
- People with the surname :* Alexander Montagu, 13th Duke of Manchester* Ashley Montagu* Charles Montagu , several persons* Edward Montagu , several persons* Edwin Samuel Montagu* Elizabeth Montagu* Ewen Montagu...
, Wilmot's uncle being George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax
George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax
George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax PC was a British politician.Halifax was the son of Edward Montagu, grandson of Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester, and Elizabeth Pelham.Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, was his uncle....
.
It was with the help of these connections that Wilmot probably managed to become an army officer, serving in places such as Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
in 1745.
Army officer
It was Wilmot's regiment in Gibraltar that was ordered to travel to Louisbourg, to relieve the garrison of Louisbourg, which had been surrendered by the French in 1745.In 1749, Louisbourg having been handed back to the French, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
troops sailed down to Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, to come under the command of Governor Edward Cornwallis
Edward Cornwallis
Lieutenant General Edward Cornwallis was a British military officer who founded Halifax, Nova Scotia with 2500 settlers and later served as the Governor of Gibraltar.-Early life:...
. While it is apparent that many of the troops of Gibraltar left Nova Scotia soon after, Wilmot stayed in Nova Scotia, having achieved the rank of major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
.
In 1755, the British was successful in laying siege to Fort Beauséjour
Fort Beauséjour
Fort Beauséjour, was built during Father Le Loutre's War from 1751-1755; it is located at the Isthmus of Chignecto in present-day Aulac, New Brunswick, Canada...
, and with war having officially broken out, Governor Charles Lawrence sent Wilmot, then a lieutenant-colonel, up to Fort Cumberland
Fort Cumberland
Fort Cumberland can refer to:*Fort Cumberland *Fort Cumberland also known as Fort Beauséjour*Fort Cumberland Fort Cumberland is located in Cucumber Land, Cumber is short for Cucumber. Fort Cumberland was founded by Johnson Merrell, a moonshiner in 1687...
(Beauséjour's new name), to act as its commander.
In 1758, Wilmot was in command of a brigade in Louisbourg, and in 1762 was sent to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
Governor of Nova Scotia
It was in Quebec, in 1763, where Wilmot received his appointment as Lieutenant-GovernorLieutenant-Governors of Nova Scotia
The following is a list of the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia. Though the present day office of the lieutenant governor in Nova Scotia came into being only upon the province's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1867, the post is a continuation from the first governorship of...
of Nova Scotia, succeeding Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher was colonial governor of the British provinces of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.-Early life:Jonathan Belcher was born in Cambridge, Province of Massachusetts Bay, in 1682...
.
Only one year later, in May of 1764, Wilmot was appointed governor of Nova Scotia. It was not a grand time for such an appointment. One example of the province's problems at the time was that Nova Scotia was suffering from great debts and deficits.
By the time of his appointment, Wilmot's health was already deteriorating, having blamed the climate for his sickness. In fact, he had sent an application to ask for a return to the England, but never received a reply.
Governor Wilmot died in 1766 after suffering from a reportedly bad winter. An elaborate funeral service was held for him in Halifax.
Montague Wilmot is one of three men thought to be the namesake of the Montague River on Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, from which the town of Montague
Montague, Prince Edward Island
Montague is a Canadian town and the largest population centre in Kings County, Prince Edward Island.The town straddles the Montague River which is the dividing line between the townships of Lot 52 and Lot 59. The town functions as a regional service centre for a rural population of 20,000...
takes its name.
External links
- http://www.blupete.com/Hist/BiosNS/1764-00/Wilmot.htm
- http://lt.gov.ns.ca/inner/frames/honourable/content/past/Wilmot.htm
- Biography at Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online