Francis Cockburn
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Cockburn served in the British Army
, played an important role in the early settlement of eastern Canada
and was a colonial administrator.
Cockburn was born in England in 1780. He was the fifth and last son of Sir James Cockburn, 8th Baronet
(1729–1804) and his second wife Augusta Anne Ayscough. His maternal grandfather was Francis Ayscough
, Dean of Bristol and royal tutor.
He joined the 7th Dragoon Guards at the age of 19 and served in South America and the Iberian Peninsula
. He arrived in Canada in 1811 as a captain in the Canadian Fencibles and fought in the War of 1812
. He served with the Quartermaster-General for Upper Canada
at York
and Kingston
. In 1815, he became assistant quartermaster-general for Upper Canada and assisted in settling immigrants near Perth
in the Bathurst District.
In 1818, he became deputy quartermaster-general for Upper and Lower Canada
. He helped establish military settlements at Perth, Richmond
, Lanark
, the Bay of Quinte
, Glengarry County
and on the Saint-François River
in Lower Canada. He also founded a village at Franktown, Ontario. In 1819, he accompanied the Duke of Richmond
on the tour of Perth and Richmond which led to the Duke's death.
He returned to England in 1823. During his time there, he helped establish the price of lands for properties in Upper Canada and provided advice on the best locations for settlement in the region.
He served as superintendent of British Honduras
from 1830 to 1837 and governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844. He was knighted in 1841. He reached the rank of general in 1860. He died at Dover
, England in 1868.
Cockburn Town, the largest settlement on San Salvador Island
in the Bahamas, was named after him, as was Cockburn Island in Ontario.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, played an important role in the early settlement of eastern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and was a colonial administrator.
Cockburn was born in England in 1780. He was the fifth and last son of Sir James Cockburn, 8th Baronet
Sir James Cockburn, 8th Baronet
Sir James Cockburn, 8th Baronet was Member of Parliament for Linlithgow Burghs from 1772 to 1784.-Family:He was a son of William Cockburn and his wife and cousin Frances Cockburn. His paternal grandparents were Sir Alexander Cockburn, 6th Baronet and his wife Mary Ancrum. His maternal grandfather...
(1729–1804) and his second wife Augusta Anne Ayscough. His maternal grandfather was Francis Ayscough
Francis Ayscough
Francis Ayscough was a tutor to George III and Clerk of the Closet to his father Frederick, Prince of Wales and later Dean of Bristol Cathedral.-Biography:...
, Dean of Bristol and royal tutor.
He joined the 7th Dragoon Guards at the age of 19 and served in South America and the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
. He arrived in Canada in 1811 as a captain in the Canadian Fencibles and fought in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He served with the Quartermaster-General for Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
at York
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. In 1815, he became assistant quartermaster-general for Upper Canada and assisted in settling immigrants near Perth
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
in the Bathurst District.
In 1818, he became deputy quartermaster-general for Upper and Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. He helped establish military settlements at Perth, Richmond
Richmond, Ontario
Richmond is a Canadian village. Founded in 1818, it spans the Jock River, a tributary of the Rideau River. Like many communities in eastern Ontario, Richmond houses several unique populations. Some residents have historic and economic roots in the immediate area. Richmond operates as a small core...
, Lanark
Lanark County, Ontario
Lanark County is a county located in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2006, the population is 63,785. Its county seat is Perth.The county took its name from the town of Lanark in Scotland.-Geography:...
, the Bay of Quinte
Bay of Quinte
The Bay of Quinte is a long, narrow bay shaped like the letter "Z" on the northern shore of Lake Ontario in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is just west of the head of the Saint Lawrence River that drains the Great Lakes into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
, Glengarry County
Glengarry County, Ontario
thumb|right|Glengarry located within OntarioGlengarry County , an area covering , is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders due to the Highland Clearances.Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from...
and on the Saint-François River
Saint-François River
The Saint-François River is a river in the Canadian province of Quebec.The Saint-François takes its source from Lake Saint-François in Chaudière-Appalaches, southeast of Thetford Mines...
in Lower Canada. He also founded a village at Franktown, Ontario. In 1819, he accompanied the Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox KG, PC was a British soldier and politician and Governor General of British North America.-Background:...
on the tour of Perth and Richmond which led to the Duke's death.
He returned to England in 1823. During his time there, he helped establish the price of lands for properties in Upper Canada and provided advice on the best locations for settlement in the region.
He served as superintendent of British Honduras
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
from 1830 to 1837 and governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844. He was knighted in 1841. He reached the rank of general in 1860. He died at Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, England in 1868.
Cockburn Town, the largest settlement on San Salvador Island
San Salvador Island
San Salvador Island, also known as Watlings Island, is an island and district of the Bahamas. Until 1986, when the National Geographic Society suggested Samana Cay, it was widely believed that during his first expedition to the New World, San Salvador Island was the first land sighted and visited...
in the Bahamas, was named after him, as was Cockburn Island in Ontario.