John Parr (governor)
Encyclopedia
Col. John Parr (December 20, 1725, Dublin, Ireland – November 25, 1791, Halifax, Nova Scotia
)
Parr was born in Dublin, Ireland as part of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy that had settled on the island during the 17th century and attended Trinity High School. At the age of 19 he joined the British Army
's 20th Foot Regiment as an ensign and was gazetted just prior to the War of the Austrian Succession
in which he fought.
A subaltern officer, he was with the Prince William, Duke of Cumberland and his army as it marched through Scotland
against Charles Stuart
's Jacobite Uprising at the Battle of Culloden
in 1746.
He was wounded at the Battle of Minden
in 1759 and spent six months in hospital. He was then stationed at Gibraltar
for six years and purchased the rank of lieutenant colonel
. In 1776, he resigned his regiment and, in 1788, he received a sinecure
as a major at the Tower of London
.
He was offered the position of Governor of Nova Scotia and took up his position as the American Revolution
was coming to an end and United Empire Loyalists
were fleeing north to escape persecution.
Parr arrived in Halifax with his family on October 5, 1782. His predecessor, Francis Legge
had been an absentee governor for six years since being recalled to England and the colony had been under the stewartship of a succession of military lieutenant-governors, the last of whom was Sir Andrew Hamond who had expected to be named governor himself. Angry at Parr's appointment, he resigned shortly after the new governor arrived and returned to England. Edmund Fanning
was named Parr's new lieutenant-governor.
In 1786, when the colonial administration of British North America
was reorganized, Parr had hoped to be named to the new position of Governor-General of The Canadas
and Governor-in-Chief of British North America
but was disappointed when the position went to Guy Carleton who was elevated to the peerage as Lord Dorchester
. The position of Governor of Nova Scotia was thereby abolished and Parr was reappointed as lieutenant governor
of the province with his superior being Lord Dorchester.
Parr's administration oversaw the settlement of Black Nova Scotians
who were African-American loyalists fleeing the United States. Parr was accused of "discriminatory practices and long delays" in the matter. He also attempted to establish a whaling
industry in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
. He was also embroiled in the "judges' affair" in which lawyers accused him of appointing incompetent or biased jurists to the bench.
Parr was under pressure to provide land and supplies for the new loyalist settlers while not bankrupting the treasury.
The British government was inundated with complaints about the difficulties the loyalists were facing and Parr's allegedly unsympathetic attitude towards them. The stress of the position may have taken a toll on his health, he died in office at the age of 66.
The town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
is named in his honour.
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
)
Parr was born in Dublin, Ireland as part of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy that had settled on the island during the 17th century and attended Trinity High School. At the age of 19 he joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's 20th Foot Regiment as an ensign and was gazetted just prior to the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
in which he fought.
A subaltern officer, he was with the Prince William, Duke of Cumberland and his army as it marched through Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
against Charles Stuart
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
's Jacobite Uprising at the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
in 1746.
He was wounded at the Battle of Minden
Battle of Minden
The Battle of Minden—or Thonhausen—was fought on 1 August 1759, during the Seven Years' War. An army fielded by the Anglo-German alliance commanded by Field Marshal Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, defeated a French army commanded by Marshal of France Louis, Marquis de Contades...
in 1759 and spent six months in hospital. He was then stationed at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
for six years and purchased the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. In 1776, he resigned his regiment and, in 1788, he received a sinecure
Sinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
as a major at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
.
He was offered the position of Governor of Nova Scotia and took up his position as the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
was coming to an end and United Empire Loyalists
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
were fleeing north to escape persecution.
Parr arrived in Halifax with his family on October 5, 1782. His predecessor, Francis Legge
Francis Legge
Francis Legge , was a British military officer and colonial official in Nova Scotia during the 18th century. He served as Governor of Nova Scotia from 1772 to 1776....
had been an absentee governor for six years since being recalled to England and the colony had been under the stewartship of a succession of military lieutenant-governors, the last of whom was Sir Andrew Hamond who had expected to be named governor himself. Angry at Parr's appointment, he resigned shortly after the new governor arrived and returned to England. Edmund Fanning
Edmund Fanning (colonial administrator)
Edmund Fanning first gained fame for his role in the War of the Regulation, but later had a distinguished career as a colonial governor and British general.right| Sketch of Edmund Fanning...
was named Parr's new lieutenant-governor.
In 1786, when the colonial administration of British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
was reorganized, Parr had hoped to be named to the new position of Governor-General of The Canadas
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
and Governor-in-Chief of British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
but was disappointed when the position went to Guy Carleton who was elevated to the peerage as Lord Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
. The position of Governor of Nova Scotia was thereby abolished and Parr was reappointed as lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of the province with his superior being Lord Dorchester.
Parr's administration oversaw the settlement of Black Nova Scotians
Black Nova Scotians
Black Nova Scotians are people of Black African descent whose ancestors fled Colonial America as slaves or freemen to settle in Nova Scotia, Canada during the 18th and 19th centuries. According to the 2006 Census of Canada, there are 19,230 black people currently living in Nova Scotia, most of whom...
who were African-American loyalists fleeing the United States. Parr was accused of "discriminatory practices and long delays" in the matter. He also attempted to establish a whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
industry in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
. He was also embroiled in the "judges' affair" in which lawyers accused him of appointing incompetent or biased jurists to the bench.
Parr was under pressure to provide land and supplies for the new loyalist settlers while not bankrupting the treasury.
The British government was inundated with complaints about the difficulties the loyalists were facing and Parr's allegedly unsympathetic attitude towards them. The stress of the position may have taken a toll on his health, he died in office at the age of 66.
The town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
Parrsboro is a Canadian town located in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.The town is known for its port on the Minas Basin, the Ship's Company Theatre productions and the Fundy Geological Museum.-History:...
is named in his honour.