Gabriel Johnston

Gabriel Johnston ( February 1698 in Southdean , Scotland , † July 17, 1752 in today's Bertie County , North Carolina ) was a British colonial governor of the Province of North Carolina .

Life

Gabriel Johnston was born in February 1698 in Southdean in a Scottish border region. His baptism date is given as February 28, 1698. He later studied at the University of St Andrews and Leiden University, among others . His subjects included medicine, Greek, and philosophy. In the meantime he was professor of oriental languages. Around 1727 he moved to London , where he devoted himself to politics and wrote political articles.

In 1734 Johnston was named the new colonial governor of the Province of North Carolina. On November 2, 1734, he succeeded the acting governor Nathaniel Rice . This had held the office since April of the same year after the removal of George Burrington . Johnston faced major problems in his new position. The colony had suffered internal crises over the years under Governors George Burrington and Richard Everard . The colonial parliament was divided and had violent disputes with the two governors mentioned, which were also taken up in front of the population. There was frequent riot and violence. At the same time, the coast was ravaged by Spanish pirates . Johnston's goal was to overcome these problems. At the same time he promoted the settlement of new colonists. This measure was supported by the colonial parliament with a ten-year tax exemption. During his tenure, the existing laws were published in print for the first time. It was then that the first newspapers printed in the colony appeared.

Johnston accepted Scottish Catholic immigrants in North Carolina despite his support for the Church of England . These came in greater numbers after the failed Jacobite revolt and the bloody battle at Culloden . Due to the growing number of colonists, the settlement boundary of the colony was gradually moved further west. Fortifications were built on the coast against enemy attacks against the background of pirate activities, but also to protect against French and Spanish attacks during the King George's War . Johnston privately ran the Brompton Plantation , where he tried out new farming methods. His first marriage was to the wealthy Penelope Golland, a stepdaughter of former Governor Charles Eden . After her death in 1741, he married Frances Button. Gabriel Johnston remained Governor of the Province of North Carolina until his death on July 17, 1752. With nearly 18 years in office, he holds the record of office of colonial governors of North Carolina.

Web links

• Gabriel Johnston in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• Johnston on NCpedia
• Johnston on Rootsweb
• Johnston at Carolana.Com