William Waldegrave, 1st Baron Radstock
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William Waldegrave, 1st Baron Radstock GCB
(9 July 1753 – 20 August 1825) was the Governor of Newfoundland and an Admiral
in the Royal Navy
.
Waldegrave was the second son of John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave
and Elizabeth (née Gower). Joining the navy at age 13 in 1766, Waldegrave rose rapidly through the ranks, receiving his own command, the Zephyr
in 1775, and being promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1795. He was the third in command on the British
side at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent
in February of 1797, and was offered a baron
etcy for the role he played in the battle. Waldegrave declined the offer (on the grounds that as a son of an earl, he already held a higher station), and was appointed the Governor of Newfoundland, Saint-Pierre
and Miquelon
, on 16 May 1797.
During Waldegrave's time as Governor, he was chiefly concerned with military matters, as a French
squadron had burned Bay Bulls
just a year prior, and Newfoundland was still quite exposed. Another key problem was desertion, as soldiers deserting to Newfoundland were generally sheltered by the island's inhabitants. A naval mutiny occurred shortly after Waldegrave's appointment and had to be stopped; Waldegrave also took steps to ensure that soldiers garrisoned in St. John's
did not try anything similar. In military matters, he was often at odds with his commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Skinner.
Waldegrave made several attempts to restrict the power of the merchant
s on Newfoundland, and also to bring law and order to the island. Although his efforts against the merchants were largely ineffective, Waldegrave was successful in having a chief justice
appointed who would reside year round. Waldegrave also undertook various humanitarian projects, especially to help the poor. He established a "Committee for the Relief of the Poor", and contributed generously to the fund. Between 1797 and 1798, nearly 300 people received assistance from this fund.
Waldegrave finished his term as governor in 1800 and was created an Irish peer as Baron Radstock
. In 1802, upon his retirement Waldegrave was promoted to full admiral. In 1815 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
.
Waldegrave was married in 1785 to Cornelia Jacoba van Lennep. They had three sons and six daughters:
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(9 July 1753 – 20 August 1825) was the Governor of Newfoundland and an Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
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...
.
Waldegrave was the second son of John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave
John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave
John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave was a British politician and soldier.Waldegrave was the youngest son of the 1st Earl Waldegrave. He joined the 1st Regiment of Foot in 1735, rising to the rank of Captain in 1739...
and Elizabeth (née Gower). Joining the navy at age 13 in 1766, Waldegrave rose rapidly through the ranks, receiving his own command, the Zephyr
HMS Zephyr
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Zephyr after the Zephyrus, the Greek god of the west wind:, originally HMS Martin, was captured by the French Navy in 1756. She was recaptured in 1757 and renamed to Zephyr....
in 1775, and being promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1795. He was the third in command on the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
side at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797)
In the Battle of Cape St Vincent a British fleet under Admiral Sir John Jervis defeated a larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal.-Origins:...
in February of 1797, and was offered a baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
etcy for the role he played in the battle. Waldegrave declined the offer (on the grounds that as a son of an earl, he already held a higher station), and was appointed the Governor of Newfoundland, Saint-Pierre
Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
Saint-Pierre is the capital of the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. Saint-Pierre is the more populated of the two communes making up Saint Pierre and Miquelon.-Geography:...
and Miquelon
Miquelon-Langlade
Miquelon-Langlade is the less populated of the two communes making up the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, in North America. They are located to the south of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean...
, on 16 May 1797.
During Waldegrave's time as Governor, he was chiefly concerned with military matters, as a French
French First Republic
The French First Republic was founded on 22 September 1792, by the newly established National Convention. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First French Empire in 1804 under Napoleon I...
squadron had burned Bay Bulls
Bay Bulls, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bay Bulls is a small fishing community in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Geography:Located in sheltered bay it has been home to many fishermen and a strategic location in early times as it is located just a few miles from the capital, St. John's.-History:Bay Bulls first appears...
just a year prior, and Newfoundland was still quite exposed. Another key problem was desertion, as soldiers deserting to Newfoundland were generally sheltered by the island's inhabitants. A naval mutiny occurred shortly after Waldegrave's appointment and had to be stopped; Waldegrave also took steps to ensure that soldiers garrisoned in 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...
did not try anything similar. In military matters, he was often at odds with his commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Skinner.
Waldegrave made several attempts to restrict the power of the merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s on Newfoundland, and also to bring law and order to the island. Although his efforts against the merchants were largely ineffective, Waldegrave was successful in having a chief justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
appointed who would reside year round. Waldegrave also undertook various humanitarian projects, especially to help the poor. He established a "Committee for the Relief of the Poor", and contributed generously to the fund. Between 1797 and 1798, nearly 300 people received assistance from this fund.
Waldegrave finished his term as governor in 1800 and was created an Irish peer as Baron Radstock
Baron Radstock
Baron Radstock, of Castletown in the Queen's County, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for Vice-Admiral the Honourable William Waldegrave. He was the second son of John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave . He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Baron. He was a...
. In 1802, upon his retirement Waldegrave was promoted to full admiral. In 1815 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
.
Waldegrave was married in 1785 to Cornelia Jacoba van Lennep. They had three sons and six daughters:
- V-Adm. Granville George Waldegrave, 2nd Baron Radstock (1786–1857), married Esther Paget and had issue
- Hon. Emily Susanna Laura Waldegrave (5 November 1787 – 12 April 1870), married Nicholas Westby
- Maria Waldegrave (26 December 1788 – 1791)
- Hon. Isabella Elizabeth Waldegrave (18 August 1792 – 21 October 1866)
- Hon. Harriet Ann Frances Waldegrave (20 October 1793 – 26 July 1880), unmarried
- Capt. Hon. William Waldegrave (7 June 1796 – 29 December 1838), married Amelia Allport
- Hon. Caroline Waldegrave (4 October 1798 – 7 January 1878), married Rev. Carew Anthony St John-Mildmay and had issue
- Hon. Augustus Waldegrave (4 February 1803 – November 1825), killed in a hunting accident near Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
- Elizabeth Frances (24 November 1799 – August 1800)
See also
- Governors of Newfoundland
- List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador