Charles Hamilton (governor)
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Hamilton, 2nd Baronet (25 May 1767 – 14 September 1849) was a British naval officer and governor of Newfoundland.
Hamilton was born in Britain
in 1767. He began his naval career at the age of nine on his father's ship, the Hector. He attended the Royal Naval Academy
at Portsmouth
from 1777 to 1779. He commanded a number of vessels in the Royal Navy
and was also a member of the British parliament several times between 1790 and 1812 while still serving in the Royal Navy
. He became baronet of Trebinshun on his father's death in 1784. From 1814 to 1817, he was Lieutenant Governor of Heligoland
.
He served as resident governor for the colony of Newfoundland from 1818 to 1823. During this period, he oversaw the reconstruction of St. John's
following fires in 1818 and 1819. Although he was charged with promoting agriculture, he was soon discouraged by the poor soils of the island. The economy of the island was depressed due to decreased demand for Newfoundland cod
and Hamilton encouraged diversification of the fisheries to include whale
s, seal
s and salmon
.
His wife, Lady Hamilton
, painted a well-known portrait of Demasduwit
, also called Mary March, a Beothuk
woman captured in 1818.
Hamilton was made an admiral on 22 July 1830, and died at the family home at Iping, West Sussex
in 1849.
Hamilton was born in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in 1767. He began his naval career at the age of nine on his father's ship, the Hector. He attended the Royal Naval Academy
Royal Naval Academy
The Royal Naval Academy was established at Portsmouth Dockyard as a facility to train officers for the Royal Navy. The founders' intentions were to provide an alternative means to recruit officers and to provide standardised training, education and admission.-Training:In 1773, a shore side...
at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
from 1777 to 1779. He commanded a number of vessels in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and was also a member of the British parliament several times between 1790 and 1812 while still serving in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He became baronet of Trebinshun on his father's death in 1784. From 1814 to 1817, he was Lieutenant Governor of Heligoland
Heligoland
Heligoland is a small German archipelago in the North Sea.Formerly Danish and British possessions, the islands are located in the Heligoland Bight in the south-eastern corner of the North Sea...
.
He served as resident governor for the colony of Newfoundland from 1818 to 1823. During this period, he oversaw the reconstruction of St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
following fires in 1818 and 1819. Although he was charged with promoting agriculture, he was soon discouraged by the poor soils of the island. The economy of the island was depressed due to decreased demand for Newfoundland cod
Atlantic cod
The Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, is a well-known demersal food fish belonging to the family Gadidae. It is also commercially known as cod, codling or haberdine....
and Hamilton encouraged diversification of the fisheries to include whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
s, seal
Pinniped
Pinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
s and salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
.
His wife, Lady Hamilton
Henrietta Hamilton
Lady Henrietta Martha Hamilton was the wife of Sir Charles Hamilton, Governor of Newfoundland, and is best known for her miniature portrait entitled Mary March. The painting is a watercolour on ivory of Demasduit and it was painted in 1819 at St. John's while she lived with her husband during his...
, painted a well-known portrait of Demasduwit
Demasduwit
Demasduit was a Beothuk woman, one of the last of her people on the island of Newfoundland, Canada.She was born near the end of the 18th century. The Beothuk were openly hostile to Europeans, and violent conflict between the two groups were common. The conflicts usually took more Beothuks than...
, also called Mary March, a Beothuk
Beothuk
The Beothuk were one of the aboriginal peoples in Canada. They lived on the island of Newfoundland at the time of European contact in the 15th and 16th centuries...
woman captured in 1818.
Hamilton was made an admiral on 22 July 1830, and died at the family home at Iping, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
in 1849.
See also
- Governors of Newfoundland
- List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador