Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/78

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\-IRGIXlA BIOGRAPHY

and by his will left all his lands and property in New England, Maryland and \'irginia to the Society for the Propagation of Christianity in Foreign Parts, and to educate in England young Xew England ministers to be sent back- to their native country.

Andros,Sir Edmund, governor of \'irginia from 1692 to 1698, was the second son of a Guernsey gentleman belonging to Charles I.'s household. He was born in London, Decem- ber 6. 1637, appointed gentleman in ordi- nary to the Queen of Bohemia in i66o. served in the regiment of foot sent to America in 1666. was major in Rupert's dragoons in 1672. and succeeded his father as bailiff of Guern- sey in 1674. The same year he was appointed by James, Duke of York, to be governor of the province of Xew York, which had been granted) to the duke by Charles II. In 1678 he was knighted while governor from Xew . York. He engaged in some disputes with the authorities of the neighboring colonies and in [681 was recalled to England. The authorities in England had borne with great patience the oppressive governments of the Xew England oligarchies, and their conduct brought punish- ment not altogether undeserved. Their char- ters were confiscated, and Andros was appointed in 1686 governor of the variouf colonies consolidated to form the dominion of Xew England. In this position Andros mnHr himself very unpopular by his Tiergy in carry- ing out the instructions of James II. Acting under the king's directions he put restrictions on the freedom of the press, and appointed a general council by whose advice he laid taxes and carried on all government and legislation. This was a reversion to the Spanish type of colonial government, which could not be jus- titiecl. ]n\{ he performed a good i)art in pro-

claiming liberty of conscience, in subduing the Indians, and in repressing the pirates, who were the scourge of the New England coast. His unpopularity continued to increase, how^- ever, and when the news of the abdication of King James arrived, the people of iioston, on April 18, 1689, suddenly seized the governor and some of his subordinates and imprisoned them. Sir Edmund was sent over to England, where, to the disappointment of his enemies, he was released without a formal trial. King William seemed to think that he had only done his duty in carrying out the instructions sent him. and so returned him to America as gov- ernor of Virginia. Here he showed both his good and evil side. He promoted manufac- tures and agriculture, put in order the govern- ment records which were in a chaotic state, and by his affability made himself generally popular with the people, but he quarrelled with Commissary James Blair, and after help- ing him to establish the new college at Wil- liamsburg, permitted his angry feelings against Dr. Blair to make him an enemy of the insti- tution. The result was that, through the in- fluence of the commissary and his relations and friends on the council. Andros was recalled in 1698. In 1704 .Andros was appointed gov- ernor of Jersey, which office he held until 1706. The remainder of his life seems to have been passed in London, where he died Feb- ruary 22. T713-T4.

Hamilton, George, Earl of Orkney, gov- ernor-in-chief of \'irginia from 1697 to his death in 1737. never residing in the colony, but enjoying his office as a pensionary sine- cure for forty years : was fifth son of William. Earl of Selkirk, who became Duke of Ham- ilton. He was born at Hamilton Palace. Lan- ark, anrl was bajUized there February 9. i6<^6.