George Cartwright (trader)
Encyclopedia
George Cartwright trader, explorer, born in Marnham, England
, died unmarried in nearby Mansfield
, England.
Cartwright's brother, John, first pursued a naval career and through it was closely connected with George’s early ventures in Newfoundland later resigned in protest against participation in the American Revolutionary War
and became a radical pamphleteer
.
Cartwright was born at Marnham in Nottinghamshire
, the eldest brother of Edmund Cartwright
, inventor of the power loom and of John Cartwright
, notable English parliamentary reformer and Radical. He was educated at Newark-on-Trent
and at Randall’s Academy, in Heath, West Yorkshire and at the age of 15 or 16 as a gentleman cadet in the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich
, London
. In 1755 he became an ensign in the 39th Foot, but to his regret missed being with the detachment commanded by Robert Clive at the retaking of Fort William
, Calcutta, the capture of Chandernagore from the French
, and the victory at the Battle of Plassey
over the Nawab of Bengal
.
Cartwright was promoted lieutenant on February 2, 1759. Early in 1760 he accompanied the Marquess of Granby to Germany
as aide-de-camp
and served as a staff officer with the British contingent under Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick. He returned to England at the end of the Seven Years' War
as a captain in the army. He transferred to the 37th Foot in 1766.
In the spring of 1766, on John’s appointment as first lieutenant of the Guernsey, flagship of Commodore Hugh Palliser
, George sailed with the governor-designate to Newfoundland where he spent a season cruising along the northeast coast. On his second voyage in the spring of 1768 to Newfoundland with John
, his brother, Cartwright was in the expedition dispatched by Palliser under John’s command into the interior of the island to establish friendly relations with the Beothuks at Red Indian Lake
.
Cartwright's next career was as a trader and entrepreneur in Labrador
where his field of operations from 1770 to 1786 was the stretch of coastline between Cape St. Charles
, Labrador
where he occupied Nicholas Darby’s old site, and Hamilton Inlet
. There were years of success, but others of failure, and in 1778 his posts were plundered by American
privateers with losses amounting to £14,000. This came about when his servant Dominick Kinnien defected to join the crew of the Boston privateer John Grimes.
In his relations with the native peoples of Labrador, especially the Inuit
, Cartwright displayed an honesty which led to mutual trust. In 1772 he took a family of five Inuit to England, where they created considerable interest, meeting with the king, members of the Royal Society
including Joseph Banks
, and James Boswell
who reported to a skeptical Samuel Johnson
his ability to communicate with them by sign language. On the return trip to Newfoundland all of the Inuit had died of smallpox except for Caubvick
. Mount Caubvick, summit elevation 5,420 feet, which is the highest coastal point on the east coast of North America
and the second highest mountain in mainland Canada east of the Rocky Mountains, is named for her.
After 1787 Cartwright resided in England. In 1793 he gave evidence before a committee of the House of Commons on affairs in Newfoundland and Labrador. His military experience led to his appointment during the Napoleonic Wars
as barrack master at Nottingham
where in later years, known by the sobriquet Old Labrador, he was a distinguished and popular figure.
His name is borne by Cartwright
, a settlement at the entrance to Sandwich Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. He had an unparalleled love for Labrador until his death, as his niece affirmed in her biography of his brother John, and as was evidenced in his own work:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, died unmarried in nearby Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
, England.
Cartwright's brother, John, first pursued a naval career and through it was closely connected with George’s early ventures in Newfoundland later resigned in protest against participation in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and became a radical pamphleteer
Pamphleteer
A pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets. Pamphlets were used to broadcast the writer's opinions on an issue, for example, in order to get people to vote for their favorite politician or to articulate a particular political ideology.A famous pamphleteer...
.
Cartwright was born at Marnham in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, the eldest brother of Edmund Cartwright
Edmund Cartwright
Edward Cartwright was an English clergyman and inventor of the power loom.- Life and work :...
, inventor of the power loom and of John Cartwright
John Cartwright (political reformer)
John Cartwright was an English naval officer, Nottinghamshire militia major and prominent campaigner for parliamentary reform. He subsequently became known as the Father of Reform...
, notable English parliamentary reformer and Radical. He was educated at Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
and at Randall’s Academy, in Heath, West Yorkshire and at the age of 15 or 16 as a gentleman cadet in the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
, 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 1755 he became an ensign in the 39th Foot, but to his regret missed being with the detachment commanded by Robert Clive at the retaking of Fort William
Fort William, India
Fort William is a fort built in Calcutta on the Eastern banks of the River Hooghly, the major distributary of the River Ganges, during the early years of the Bengal Presidency of British India. It was named after King William III of England...
, Calcutta, the capture of Chandernagore from the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and the victory at the Battle of Plassey
Battle of Plassey
The Battle of Plassey , 23 June 1757, was a decisive British East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, establishing Company rule in South Asia which expanded over much of the Indies for the next hundred years...
over the Nawab of Bengal
Nawab of Bengal
The Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazims or subadars of the subah of Bengal during the Mughal rule and the de-facto rulers of the province.-History:...
.
Cartwright was promoted lieutenant on February 2, 1759. Early in 1760 he accompanied the Marquess of Granby to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
and served as a staff officer with the British contingent under Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick. He returned to England at the end of the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
as a captain in the army. He transferred to the 37th Foot in 1766.
In the spring of 1766, on John’s appointment as first lieutenant of the Guernsey, flagship of Commodore Hugh Palliser
Hugh Palliser
Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, 1st Baronet was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War...
, George sailed with the governor-designate to Newfoundland where he spent a season cruising along the northeast coast. On his second voyage in the spring of 1768 to Newfoundland with John
John Cartwright (political reformer)
John Cartwright was an English naval officer, Nottinghamshire militia major and prominent campaigner for parliamentary reform. He subsequently became known as the Father of Reform...
, his brother, Cartwright was in the expedition dispatched by Palliser under John’s command into the interior of the island to establish friendly relations with the Beothuks at Red Indian Lake
Red Indian Lake
Red Indian Lake is located in the western interior of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The downstream end of the lake drains into the Exploits River. This winds through the interior of the island and eventually exits into the Atlantic Ocean through...
.
Cartwright's next career was as a trader and entrepreneur in Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
where his field of operations from 1770 to 1786 was the stretch of coastline between Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles is a headland on the coast of Labrador in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At longitude 55°37'15"W it is the most easterly point on the continental North America....
, Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
where he occupied Nicholas Darby’s old site, and Hamilton Inlet
Hamilton Inlet
Hamilton Inlet is a fjord-like inlet on the Labrador coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Together with Lake Melville, it forms the province's largest estuary, extending over 140 kilometres inland to Happy Valley-Goose Bay and primarily draining the Churchill River and...
. There were years of success, but others of failure, and in 1778 his posts were plundered by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
privateers with losses amounting to £14,000. This came about when his servant Dominick Kinnien defected to join the crew of the Boston privateer John Grimes.
In his relations with the native peoples of Labrador, especially 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...
, Cartwright displayed an honesty which led to mutual trust. In 1772 he took a family of five Inuit to England, where they created considerable interest, meeting with the king, members of 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"...
including Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks
Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage . Banks is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him,...
, and James Boswell
James Boswell
James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck was a lawyer, diarist, and author born in Edinburgh, Scotland; he is best known for the biography he wrote of one of his contemporaries, the English literary figure Samuel Johnson....
who reported to a skeptical Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
his ability to communicate with them by sign language. On the return trip to Newfoundland all of the Inuit had died of smallpox except for Caubvick
Caubvick
Caubvick was an Inuk from Labrador, a wife of one of George Cartwright's Inuit friends. The highest peak in all of Labrador and east of the Rockies is named in her honor, Mount Caubvick....
. Mount Caubvick, summit elevation 5,420 feet, which is the highest coastal point on the east coast of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and the second highest mountain in mainland Canada east of the Rocky Mountains, is named for her.
After 1787 Cartwright resided in England. In 1793 he gave evidence before a committee of the House of Commons on affairs in Newfoundland and Labrador. His military experience led to his appointment during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
as barrack master at Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
where in later years, known by the sobriquet Old Labrador, he was a distinguished and popular figure.
His name is borne by Cartwright
Cartwright, Newfoundland and Labrador
-Further reading:*Buckle, Francis Labrador Diary, 1915-1925: the Gordon journals. Cartwright: Anglican Parish ISBN 0-9733448-0-6 -External links:*...
, a settlement at the entrance to Sandwich Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. He had an unparalleled love for Labrador until his death, as his niece affirmed in her biography of his brother John, and as was evidenced in his own work:
- Fish, Fowl and Ven'son, now our tables grace
- Roast Beaver too, and e'ery Beast of Chase.
- Luxurious living this! who'd wish for more?
- Were QUIN alive, he'd haste to Labrador!
Publications
- Cartwright's journal was published in 1792 as Journal of Transactions and Events, During a Residence of Nearly Sixteen Years on the Coast of Labrador. It is the primary source for John StefflerJohn Steffler-Biography:Born in Toronto, Ontario, Steffler was educated at the University of Toronto and the University of Guelph. Since 1975 he has lived in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador where he taught at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College...
's 1992 novel The Afterlife of George Cartwright, a fictional account of Cartwright's experiences. - In 1911, an edited version was published by Charles Wendell Thomas as Captain Cartwright and his Journal. This edition was reprinted most recently in 2000.