Francis Legge
Encyclopedia
Francis Legge was a British military officer and colonial official in Nova Scotia
during the 18th century. He served as Governor of Nova Scotia from 1772 to 1776.
Major Legge was appointed vice-roy of Nova Scotia by Colonial Secretary
William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth
in 1773. Legge had served in the territory during the Seven Years War "without distinction or promotion". However, Legge happened to be a relative of the Earl.
He arrived in Halifax on the Adamant on October 6, 1773 with order to determine what were the financial difficulties in Nova Scotia and cure them. He proceeded to cut unnecessary expenses while trying to keep the province loyal to Britain. According to one account:
Legge's actions, particularly an attempt to audit the province's accounts, earned him a growing number of opponents among the local merchant oligarchy and turned both the legislative council
and legislative assembly against him and open rebellion broke out against Legge in the south of the province. Legge was recalled to London in 1776 due to the complaints against him. The Board of Trade in London criticized him for "Gracious and Conciliating Deportment". The new Colonial Secretary, Lord George Germain, was concerned that "the Province will be lost, utterly lost" due to Legge's actions in alienating Nova Scotians and possibly losing the province to the rebellious colonies during the American Revolution
. A decision was made to replace him with a more conciliatory administrator, Mariot Arbuthnot. Legge was not permitted to return to Nova Scotia but remained governor in name only until 1782.
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...
during the 18th century. He served as Governor of Nova Scotia from 1772 to 1776.
Major Legge was appointed vice-roy of Nova Scotia by Colonial Secretary
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth
William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth
William Legge 2nd Earl of Dartmouth PC, FRS , styled as Viscount Lewisham from 1732 to 1750, was a British statesman who is most remembered for his part in the government before and during the American Revolution....
in 1773. Legge had served in the territory during the Seven Years War "without distinction or promotion". However, Legge happened to be a relative of the Earl.
He arrived in Halifax on the Adamant on October 6, 1773 with order to determine what were the financial difficulties in Nova Scotia and cure them. He proceeded to cut unnecessary expenses while trying to keep the province loyal to Britain. According to one account:
Legge's actions, particularly an attempt to audit the province's accounts, earned him a growing number of opponents among the local merchant oligarchy and turned both the legislative council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
and legislative assembly against him and open rebellion broke out against Legge in the south of the province. Legge was recalled to London in 1776 due to the complaints against him. The Board of Trade in London criticized him for "Gracious and Conciliating Deportment". The new Colonial Secretary, Lord George Germain, was concerned that "the Province will be lost, utterly lost" due to Legge's actions in alienating Nova Scotians and possibly losing the province to the rebellious colonies during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. A decision was made to replace him with a more conciliatory administrator, Mariot Arbuthnot. Legge was not permitted to return to Nova Scotia but remained governor in name only until 1782.