december march british colonial administrator longest serving governor governor bahamas best known role organizing siege king george war role military affairs french indian war spent years colonial administration north_america working defeat new france lack formal military training led political difficulties eventual downfall politically connected began career massachusetts advocate general admiralty court quickly opponent governor joined political enemies bring recall appointed governor massachusetts bay place successfully political divisions province able bring united action king george war began successful major role organizing high points administration king george war disputes funding accounting war effort returned england deal political legal matters arising disputes assigned commission established great_britain france determine colonial borders north_america hard line approach negotiations contributed failure returned massachusetts military matters dominated remaining years massachusetts french indian war beginning led military expedition reinforce commander chief north_america death general difficulties organizing expeditions compounded political disputes new_york politicians military matters indian agent sir disagreements led recall commander chief governor later years served governor bahamas returning massachusetts died early life son william born december england educated cambridge read law london grandfather died leaving hall funds purchase london time married large number children called bar inheritance substantial cultivated expensive lifestyle suffered significant financial depression financial demands large family children prompted seek appointment north american colonies family connected marriage duke newcastle important patron sponsor advancement speaker house_of_commons armed letters introduction newcastle appointment arrived boston massachusetts advocate general initially received indifference massachusetts governor refused patronage positions available sought secure commission crown surveyor general eventually decided retain office influence newcastle eventually yielded position advocate general admiralty court resisted newcastle promote began position actively prosecute supporters illegal logging activities came jurisdiction common cause wealthy merchant major landowner province eastern district present day maine enforcement timber cutting laws business royal_navy sent wife london lobby behalf eventually went london combination connection newcastle money soon colonial administration joined new_hampshire interests governor new_hampshire scale offensive launched late included forged letter opponents attempt discredit governor denounced newcastle dominant position colonial administration british government opponent prime minister sir actively encouraged opponents voted separate massachusetts new_hampshire began debating idea replacing governor exact reasons dismissal recurring subject scholarly interest colonial imperial political factors play principal themes analyses acquisition local enemies idea good imperial governance london eventually required replacement issues efforts failed noted year carrying manner years past historian notes powerful newcastle time generally issues deal colonial politics instance imperial colonial considerations coincided need massachusetts provide significant number troops newcastle proposed west_indies expedition war ear april newcastle effect offered opportunity prove light political difficulties effectively raise troops governor consequently engaged recruiting principally outside massachusetts refused offers assistance understanding going newcastle documentation successes preoccupied banking crisis newcastle handed issue secretary known opponent apparently decided based weight extant evidence needed replaced april approved commission governor massachusetts commission governor new_hampshire issued following june governor massachusetts assumed governorship massachusetts august immediately confronted currency crisis province suffering years inflation caused issuance increasing quantities paper currency late tenure competing banking proposals bid address issue popular proposal bank secured real estate enacted bank controversy having contributed recall dissolved act parliament negotiate dissolution bank assets notes issued process occupied rest legislation provincial assembly provided schedule bank currency causing bank principal owners collapse rising tensions acted strengthen military defenses colony created series volunteer militia companies frontier included rangers model famous creation roger rangers outbreak war britain captured france queen anne war treaty left french hands clearly boundary new france british colonies atlantic coast protect crucial heart new france france built strong fortress atlantic coast took office relations france britain strained possibility britain drawn war austrian succession started european mainland able restrictions production paper currency achieve province defences requested permission printing additional currency war break permission granted warning war france likely france declared war britain march forces raided british fishing port northern end mainland nova scotia residents aware war french began british colonial vessels british colonial governors coast including sent colonial guard ships authorized response french activity new_england fishermen fall interest massachusetts prior capture received request assistance lieutenant governor nova scotia support defence response fall second urgent request promptly companies volunteers timely arrival troops early july broke siege captured held prisoner returned new_england prisoner exchange gave detailed report emphasised weaknesses french fort owned businesses maine vulnerable raids new france toured new_england advocating expedition capture leaders new_england new_york sent letters colonial authorities london seeking support expedition citing vulnerable conditions wanted attack winter colonial force doubted plan january submitted provincial assembly declined support plan request britain undertake attack continued advocate quick american expedition enlisting support fishing captains merchants principal gentlemen boston called session discuss matter proposal submitted committee chaired committee reported favourably plan approved single vote opponents absent chamber appointed reluctant command expedition appointed colonel command position appointed military advisor requested support expedition commodore royal_navy squadron west_indies warren declined objections captains news arrived boston expedition preparing leave despite absence support royal_navy new_england expedition set march men transports mainly fishing boats coastal traders escorted colonial guard ships descended expedition waited ice clear site south chosen troop landing starting april expedition joined royal_navy warships command commodore warren received orders issued january received previous refusal assist expedition siege provincial forces began landing bay april laid siege fortress british ships blockaded harbour americans began suffering battle losses british naval officers low opinion american soldiers grew increasingly critical american efforts warren tried exert control provincial troops resisted surrendered june americans lost men combat disease sea siege royal_navy ships fire fortress lost sailor settled occupation friction grew americans british terms surrender guaranteed french possessions american troops hand royal_navy captured rich french prizes british sailors shore leave americans rich going shares american troops signed capture expected home siege ended british government believed provincial troops incapable capturing plans send british troops occupation fortress evident british troops relieving winter passed governor travelled raise morale troops speech troops little effect troops close mutiny second speech promised send home troops immediately provide higher pay better supplies stayed spring honors british government sparse british_army right raise regiments warren promoted rear admiral aborted campaign engaged campaign primarily way ensure british interests atlantic fisheries victory expand vision encompass possibility capturing new france capturing french fort wrote newcastle proposing series expeditions gain control north_america far west mississippi_river starting saint lawrence return boston began making preparations expedition received plans london outlining attempt quebec royal_navy provincial forces second expedition attack fort saint stepped recruiting massachusetts asked neighboring governors contribute men resources effort expected support britain arrived expeditions called waiting definite word london plans province western defenses spring began sending supplies hudson_river valley anticipation fort saint word arrived newcastle british establishment support expeditions drop military spending resulted negative consequences massachusetts economy popularity personally supply activities surrounding expedition funds purchase estate built elaborate mansion known house building complete wife died fever august interred king chapel crisis governor trouble royal_navy people boston navy long sought press americans service ships long standing practice britain application america resisted colonists fired tried leave recently impressed men aboard result american complaints reinforced british merchants parliament banned american colonies navy leaders argued american exemption force queen anne war ended practice royal_navy captains apply colonial governors license press men late november fight press gang sailors staying boarding house boston left sailors fatal injuries members press gang charged murder convicted released indictment found invalid years later commodore served governor capture large number seamen boston harbour impressed service squadron mob men seized naval officers deputy sheriff beat sheriff mob went governor house demanding release men impressed tried militia respond succeed getting naval officers house mob eventually left later day went meet people mob consisting thousand people attacked breaking windows building spoke mob promised present demands commodore mob left intending find royal_navy ship burn returned home afternoon mob seized naval officer petty officers returned house ordered number armed men protecting house fire mob able stop men firing persuade mob leave meantime commodore threatened bombard boston squadron adopted resolutions support demands mob situation boston mob eventually released hostages released impressed seamen compensation currency issue contention compensation american colonies britain costs expedition long occupation american troops british_army finally took presented problem expedition leaders including ally inflated claimed costs openly act begin efforts governor able effort promising colonial administration achieve financial stability province retiring paper currency british government slow responding requests compensation waiting response question use compensation debated provincial newspapers pamphlets father famous leader advocated placing money london banks serve backing paper currency issued colonies including speaker favoured compensation paper currency massachusetts hard currency treaty returned france massachusetts awaiting compensation seizure meantime governor trying finance campaign capture fort present day crown point new_york issued paper money campaign abandoned colonies failed support resulting inflation helped turn supporters loss increase public dissatisfaction seen british american colonies joined large number citizens calling removal edited published regularly criticised british government administration paper published letters officials britain critical americans regularly called governor removal prominent physician boston wrote series pamphlets published rogers attacking commodore conduct campaign occupation sued libel lost cases court conflict expenses eventually reached high pitch successfully attached assets legal action countered legal action appealed actions london granted permission received august travel london deal matter sailed britain september long promised compensation reached boston legislation delivered retire paper currency abroad served carefully instructed lieutenant governor enemies opportunities manoeuvre absence european interlude met newcastle colonial secretary duke discuss colonial matters situation newcastle ordered military books analysis found confirm position accounts examined found great majesty orders colonies communicated political concerns new_york governor london word arrived clinton wanted leave post applied newcastle job turned newcastle upset accepted unexpected offer participate commission established boundaries british french territories north_america commission set meet paris saw opportunity advance views newcastle time involved political struggle newcastle unhappy accepted offer able convince newcastle experience position use negotiations commission met paris accompanied somewhat mild merchant adopted hard line negotiations arguing technical fashion expansive reading british territory claimed territory east line north saint lawrence river french claimed area nova_scotia approach served negotiating positions commission work complained london spending effort negotiations dragged french british actively expanding interests valley raising tensions minor scandal married young daughter paris landlord recalled london complained taking actions consulting returned london convinced french needed driven north_america attempted continue negotiations believing overcome previous negotiations ended failure renewed application new_york governorship newcastle upset marriage instead ordered return massachusetts leaving wife london unclear saw biographer believes family lore reunited left massachusetts governorship return massachusetts opposition massachusetts died england paris soon deal increasing conflict frontier french canada tensions increasing particularly british french traders coming conflict false rumors reached boston french military activity province northern frontier maine quick organize expedition bolster area defenses expedition erected news hostilities brought urgency matter attendance planned conference colonies albany new_york urgency support politically powerful maine landowners relationship provincial assembly relatively good instructed provincial representatives seek colonial union provincial assembly provinces rejected conference proposals seven years war campaigns approached nova_scotia governor assistance dealing french threat province suggesting collaborate military actions lawrence believed proposed expedition require assistance britain sent letters requesting time preparations anticipation request approved ordered activate recruit regiment serve force leave province sent sons new_york recruit troops massachusetts men drafted nova scotia expedition furthermore revived idea expedition fort limited year action establishment fort southern end sought draw leaders neighboring colonies assist operation new_york acting governor generally hostile massachusetts interests proposing expedition led new_york indian commissioner colonel johnson reluctant able convince command french indian war matter imperial concern british_army regiments general sent america written exchanges announced intention use force unsuccessfully lobbied instead target fort conference governors military leaders april favorably impressed declared target authorized regiment sir fort confirmed johnson command campaign instructions gave command johnson later source trouble northern expeditions logistical assistance regular army conference traveled new_york_city negotiated merchants supplying expedition relationship governor continued objected saw massachusetts interference provincial affairs moved prevent new_york agent recruiting connecticut caused threatened planning new_york expeditions created breach johnson attempting troops johnson command increase force fort expedition fact expeditions competing supplies sources exacerbated ongoing border disputes provinces johnson met july respective expeditions set tension men continued johnson delayed decisions assigning indian campaign observing expedition traveling friendly territory needed took offense act believing johnson sought bypass indian agent negotiate directly tribes recruits johnson subordinates actively opposed objected presence recruiting agent colonel outstanding issues past land transactions situation easier fact johnson commanded expeditions size scope proposed expedition reached fort mid august trek slowed low water supplied resulting shortage provisions learned route general died aftermath july battle claimed life son william result temporary commander chief north american forces expedition fort need improve defenses ongoing crisis council september decided proceed plans reach fort week later decision reversed returned albany preoccupied need manage entire british war effort continent expedition fared little better reached southern end forces inconclusive encounter french forces september began work fort william henry rumors french movements brought activity november opposition failed johnson force abandoned camp return home pressure new_england governors assign militia new posting winter nova scotia governor lawrence easily captured fort embarked known great expulsion removal nova scotia ships carrying entered boston harbor early december ordered winter months march remained ships half died cold weather seven years war campaigns winter feud johnson continued johnson advised continued assert exclusive authority interactions indians renewed complaints interference recruiting campaign letter johnson wrote enemy blast character johnson common cause related marriage dislike fed reports new new_york governor sir london unaware threat authority commander chief proposal campaign season november continuing routes attack begun adding expedition quebec complaints reached duke newcastle felt needed embroiled controversies leaders charge military matters north_america british leaders received intercepted letters destined france believed written married traveled london early denounced colonial administration learn matters april time british leadership decided replace commander chief waiting replacement lord effort advance supplies reinforcements garrison short rations winter supply line interrupted march continued resources personnel efforts authority widespread knowledge replacement military affairs continued deteriorate new_york frontier finally arrived july fell french august removed commander chief retained massachusetts governorship expected lose post long return boston august replacement named saw interference wrong new_york frontier raised detailed questions war related expenditures later historians concluded poorly disguised patronage spending argued issues including military preparations january commission issued pointed british leadership hardly expect preparations cease interval commission arrival command waited replacement announced took gathered evidence support version affairs worked close financial affairs opinion delayed departure intentionally political maneuver sailed england october formally replaced later life arrival london received newcastle sympathetic figures newcastle forced office poor showing war ongoing disagreements meant unlikely receive north american posting newcastle withdrew support hearing matters disputed granted formal hearings aspects conduct managed convince newcastle matter accounts prospects damaged continued poor military performance north_america notably august resulted recall failures served bring newcastle good late commissioned governor bahamas followed early promotion lieutenant general lengthy passage arrived bahamas december ship wrecked reef islands eventually arrived incident injury nassau assumed power rule quiet dealing islands major issue demanding governor attention combat illicit trade lobbied london government nassau established free port influential regard nassau receive status left office oversaw renovations governor mansion promoted construction churches funding wife death took children england properly cared returned islands deal protests recently enacted stamp act proposed use stamps official documents local assembly reaction opposition dissolved body time assembly met stamp act repealed health failing eventually replaced governor son thomas appointed november arrived assume office following year sailed boston took residence old house daughter son law died march state funeral interred king chapel family legacy son thomas major general british army created served posting bahamas governor governor leeward_islands died son killed battle whilst serving daughter anne married member massachusetts governor council built family home sold daughter son law later came hands governor massachusetts 19th century known house stands street largely restored museum open public town massachusetts founded term massachusetts governor massachusetts geographical feature feature named helped establish fishery namesake street halifax nova scotia parallel named works william letter duke newcastle london william alexander william conduct major briefly stated london william lincoln correspondence volume new_york william lincoln correspondence volume new_york
William Shirley