Henry Ellis (governor)
Encyclopedia
Henry Ellis was an explorer, author, and a colonial governor of Georgia.
Ellis was born in County Monaghan
, Ireland
. He was educated in law at the Temple Church
in London
. In May 1746, he went out as agent of a company for the discovery of the Northwest Passage
. After extinguishing with difficulty a fire in his ship, he sailed to Greenland
, where he exchanged commodities with the Inuit
peoples on 8 July. He then proceeded to Fort Nelson
, and wintered in Hayes River
. He renewed his efforts in June 1747, without success, and returned to England; where he arrived on 14 October. He published an accounts of his explorations in 1748, entitled "Voyage made to Hudson's Bay in 1746, by the Dobbs Galley and The California, to discover a Northwest Passage" and in 1750 published "Considerations relating to the Northwest Passage". After publishing these accounts, Ellis was inducted into the Royal Society
.
From 1750 to 1755, Ellis worked as a slave trader, purchasing slaves from Africa and shipping them
to Jamaica
.
Lord Halifax, President of the Board of Trade named Ellis lieutenant governor of Georgia
, 15 August 1756. Ellis arrived at Savannah, Georgia
on 16 February 1757, and on 17 May 1758, was made royal governor. His administration of the colony was highly esteemed. Recognizing the danger posed to the colony by hostile neighbors, he established a treaty with the Creeks. He published "Heat of the Weather in Georgia" in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
in 1758. The subtropical climate took its toll on his health, and he had to be removed from govener then left Georgia on 2 November 1760,and stopping in New York
to request military assistance to the southern colonies.
After his return to England his knowledge of American
affairs were called into requisition for developing the plan for taxing the colonies, and in return for this service he was rewarded with sinecure
offices. He afterward resided in Italy
, principally occupied in scientific researches.
Ellis was born in County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was educated in law at the Temple Church
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a late-12th-century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. In modern times, two Inns of Court both use the church. It is famous for its effigy tombs and for being a round church...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In May 1746, he went out as agent of a company for the discovery of the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
. After extinguishing with difficulty a fire in his ship, he sailed to Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, where he exchanged commodities with the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
peoples on 8 July. He then proceeded to Fort Nelson
Fort Nelson
Fort Nelson may refer to*Fort Nelson, British Columbia, a town*Fort Nelson River*Fort Nelson, Hampshire, a fort in England*Fort Nelson , a fur trading post and the first headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company near Port Nelson, Manitoba.*Fort Nelson...
, and wintered in Hayes River
Hayes River
The Hayes River is a river in Northern Region, Manitoba, Canada that flows from Molson Lake to Hudson Bay at York Factory. It was an historically important river in the development of Canada, and is today a Canadian Heritage River and the longest naturally flowing river in Manitoba.-Course:The...
. He renewed his efforts in June 1747, without success, and returned to England; where he arrived on 14 October. He published an accounts of his explorations in 1748, entitled "Voyage made to Hudson's Bay in 1746, by the Dobbs Galley and The California, to discover a Northwest Passage" and in 1750 published "Considerations relating to the Northwest Passage". After publishing these accounts, Ellis was inducted into the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
.
From 1750 to 1755, Ellis worked as a slave trader, purchasing slaves from Africa and shipping them
Atlantic slave trade
The Atlantic slave trade, also known as the trans-atlantic slave trade, refers to the trade in slaves that took place across the Atlantic ocean from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth centuries...
to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
.
Lord Halifax, President of the Board of Trade named Ellis lieutenant governor of Georgia
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
, 15 August 1756. Ellis arrived at Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
on 16 February 1757, and on 17 May 1758, was made royal governor. His administration of the colony was highly esteemed. Recognizing the danger posed to the colony by hostile neighbors, he established a treaty with the Creeks. He published "Heat of the Weather in Georgia" in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society is a scientific journal published by the Royal Society of London. It was established in 1665, making it the first journal in the world exclusively devoted to science, and it has remained in continuous publication ever since, making it the world's...
in 1758. The subtropical climate took its toll on his health, and he had to be removed from govener then left Georgia on 2 November 1760,and stopping in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to request military assistance to the southern colonies.
After his return to England his knowledge of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
affairs were called into requisition for developing the plan for taxing the colonies, and in return for this service he was rewarded with sinecure
Sinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
offices. He afterward resided in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, principally occupied in scientific researches.