Robert Hunter (Governor)

Robert Hunter (* 1666 in Edinburgh , Scotland , † March 31, 1734 Jamaica ) was the early 18th century English governor of the province of New York , the province of New Jersey, and of Jamaica.

Life

Robert Hunter initially completed an apprenticeship as a pharmacist, which he soon gave up. His military career began in 1688 when a new guard was set up to protect the then princess and later Queen Anne . In the following years he served in various other military units and rose over time to general. He took part in the European wars of that time. Among other things, he fought in 1704 in the Battle of Blenheim. In addition, he worked as a poet and amateur scientist. In 1706 he married Elizabeth Orby, the wealthy widow of Lord John Hay, one of his former superiors.

In 1707 Robert Hunter was named Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of Virginia . He was unable to exercise this office, however, because he was captured by a corsair on his journey to this American colony and was brought to France. He stayed there until 1709 when he was exchanged for the Bishop of Quebec. In 1710 he was appointed the new colonial governor of the provinces of New York and New Jersey. He held this office between 1710 and 1719. Even before his crossing, he had successfully campaigned for around 3,000 refugees and settlers from the Palatinate to come to America and settle in the colonies there. These then arrived in a ship convoy at the same time as him in the New World. Most of them were employed as laborers in the forests of New York Province, making wood tar for the British Navy. In 1719 Hunter was removed from his two posts as colonial governor (New York and New Jersey). Pieter Schuyler , who had already held this office in 1708 and 1709, was appointed provisional transitional governor . In the following years Hunter worked for the British Comptroller of Customs. He was then from 1727 until his death on March 31, 1734 British colonial governor of Jamaica.

Web links

• Online biography Hunters