Thomas Caulfeild
Encyclopedia
Thomas Caulfeild was the British Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia
from 1715 to 1717.
Caulfeild was a younger son of William Caulfeild, 2nd Viscount Charlemont. His first military service was from 1702 to 1705 in Spain
during the War of the Spanish Succession
. In 1710, he took part in Francis Nicholson
's successful expedition
against Port-Royal
. The next year he served in Admiral Hovenden Walker
's disastrous expedition to Quebec
. He impressed General John Hill
, the commander of the expedition's land forces, and was appointed by Hill to command the garrison at Annapolis Royal
(as Port-Royal had been renamed) and serve as deputy to Governor Samuel Vetch
.
Caulfeild was formally commissioned as Nova Scotia
's lieutenant governor in October 1712, when Nicholson was appointed its governor. Nicholson was absent during most of his time as governor, only briefly visiting the province in 1714. In 1715 Nicholson was replaced as governor by Vetch, but Vetch never came to the province again. Caulfeild governed the province until his death in early 1717.
While acting in the position and while governor, Caulfeild was involved in attempting to obtain an oath of allegiance to the British Crown by the Acadian French
. He was unsuccessful in this endeavour, although he did obtain statements of neutrality from them upon the accession of King George I
. Caulfeild incurred significant personal debts in maintaining the garrison at Annapolis Royal.
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...
from 1715 to 1717.
Caulfeild was a younger son of William Caulfeild, 2nd Viscount Charlemont. His first military service was from 1702 to 1705 in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. In 1710, he took part in Francis Nicholson
Francis Nicholson
Francis Nicholson was a British military officer and colonial administrator. His military service included time in Africa and Europe, after which he was sent as leader of the troops supporting Sir Edmund Andros in the Dominion of New England. There he distinguished himself, and was appointed...
's successful expedition
Siege of Port Royal (1710)
The Siege of Port Royal , also known as the Conquest of Acadia, was conducted by British regular and provincial forces under the command of Francis Nicholson against a French Acadian garrison under the command of Daniel d'Auger de Subercase, at the Acadian capital, Port Royal...
against Port-Royal
Port Royal, Nova Scotia
Port Royal was the capital of Acadia from 1605 to 1710 and is now a town called Annapolis Royal in the western part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Initially Port Royal was located on the north shore of the Annapolis Basin, Nova Scotia, at the site of the present reconstruction of the...
. The next year he served in Admiral Hovenden Walker
Hovenden Walker
Sir Hovenden Walker was a British naval officer noted for having led an abortive 1711 expedition against Quebec City, then the capital of New France....
's disastrous expedition to Quebec
Quebec Expedition
The Quebec Expedition, or the Walker Expedition to Quebec, was a British attempt to attack Quebec in 1711 in Queen Anne's War, the North American theatre of the War of Spanish Succession...
. He impressed General John Hill
John Hill (courtier)
Major-General John "Jack" Hill was a British army officer and courtier during the reign of Queen Anne. While of no particular military ability, his family connections brought him promotion and office until the end of Anne's reign....
, the commander of the expedition's land forces, and was appointed by Hill to command the garrison at Annapolis Royal
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...
(as Port-Royal had been renamed) and serve as deputy to Governor Samuel Vetch
Samuel Vetch
Samuel Vetch was a Scottish soldier and colonial governor of Nova Scotia.-Early life:...
.
Caulfeild was formally commissioned as 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...
's lieutenant governor in October 1712, when Nicholson was appointed its governor. Nicholson was absent during most of his time as governor, only briefly visiting the province in 1714. In 1715 Nicholson was replaced as governor by Vetch, but Vetch never came to the province again. Caulfeild governed the province until his death in early 1717.
While acting in the position and while governor, Caulfeild was involved in attempting to obtain an oath of allegiance to the British Crown by the Acadian French
Acadian French
Acadian French , is a regionalized dialect of Canadian French. It is spoken by the francophone population of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by small minorities in areas in the Gaspé region of eastern Quebec, by small groups of francophones in Prince Edward Island, in several tiny pockets...
. He was unsuccessful in this endeavour, although he did obtain statements of neutrality from them upon the accession of King George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
. Caulfeild incurred significant personal debts in maintaining the garrison at Annapolis Royal.