David Fanning (loyalist)
Encyclopedia
David Fanning was a Loyalist
leader in the American Revolutionary War
. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1791 to 1801 representing Kings County
.
. His father was David Fanning, and he grew up in Johnston County
, North Carolina
.
. However, he said that mistreatment by Patriots caused him to change sides. In the latter part of the war, he was commissioned colonel of a regiment of Loyalist militia.
and then the Bahamas before settling in the newly created British
colony of New Brunswick
. He was elected to the 2nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
in 1791. Fanning represented Kings County, New Brunswick
until 1801.
, then the capital of the Confederate States of America
. In 1800, he was accused of rape. He was found guilty and sentenced to death despite contradictions in the evidence against him. He was pardoned but exiled from the province and expelled from the provincial assembly.
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
leader in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1791 to 1801 representing Kings County
Kings County, New Brunswick
Kings County is located in southern New Brunswick, Canada.Both the Saint John and Kennebecasis rivers pass through the county.Dairy farming is an important industry in the area...
.
Early life
Fanning was born 25 October 1755 in Amelia County, VirginiaAmelia County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,400 people, 4,240 households, and 3,175 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
. His father was David Fanning, and he grew up in Johnston County
Johnston County, North Carolina
-Major highways:* Interstate 40* Interstate 95* U.S. Highway 70* U.S. Highway 301* U.S. Highway 701-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 121,965 people, 46,595 households, and 33,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
American War of Independence
Fanning claimed to have been originally a PatriotPatriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
. However, he said that mistreatment by Patriots caused him to change sides. In the latter part of the war, he was commissioned colonel of a regiment of Loyalist militia.
Political career
After the recognition of American independence, Fanning moved to FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and then the Bahamas before settling in the newly created 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...
colony of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. He was elected to the 2nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
2nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
The 2nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly represented New Brunswick between January 3, 1793 and 1795.The assembly sat at the pleasure of the Governor of New Brunswick, Thomas Carleton. All sessions were held in Fredericton in a building rented for that purpose.Amos Botsford was chosen as speaker...
in 1791. Fanning represented Kings County, New Brunswick
Kings County, New Brunswick
Kings County is located in southern New Brunswick, Canada.Both the Saint John and Kennebecasis rivers pass through the county.Dairy farming is an important industry in the area...
until 1801.
Controversy
Fanning remains a controversial figure in history. In 1790, he wrote The Narrative of Colonel David Fanning, which ironically would first see print in 1861 in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, then the capital of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. In 1800, he was accused of rape. He was found guilty and sentenced to death despite contradictions in the evidence against him. He was pardoned but exiled from the province and expelled from the provincial assembly.