Governor of Londonderry facts for kids

The Governor of Londonderry and Culmore was an important military leader in British history. This person was in charge of protecting the city of Derry and a nearby fort called Culmore. Their main job was to command the soldiers and make sure the city's defenses were strong. The Governor was paid by a group known as The Honourable The Irish Society, which helped manage lands in Ireland.

Who Was the Governor of Londonderry?

The Governor of Londonderry and Culmore was like a military commander for a specific area. They were responsible for the safety and defense of the city of Derry and the Culmore fort. This role was a British military appointment, meaning it was a job given by the British government to a military officer.

What Did a Governor Do?

A Governor's main duties included:

• Leading the soldiers, also known as the garrison, who protected the city.
• Making sure the city's walls and defenses, called fortifications, were in good shape.
• Keeping order and security within the city and the fort.
• Representing the authority of the British Crown in the area.

The Honourable The Irish Society

This society was a powerful group that played a big part in developing and managing lands in Ulster, Ireland. They were responsible for paying the Governor, showing how important this position was for the region's security and administration.

List of Governors of Londonderry and Culmore

Many different military leaders held the position of Governor of Londonderry and Culmore over several centuries. Here is a list of some of the people who served in this important role:

• 1603–1606: The 1st Baron Docwra of Culmore
• 1606–1608: Sir George Paulet
• 1611–1643: Sir John Vaughan
• 1643–1644: Sir Robert Stewart
• 1644–1645: Colonel Audley Mervyn
• 1645–1648: Thomas Folliott, 2nd Baron Folliott
• 1648–1649: The 2nd Earl of Mountrath
• 1649–?: Robert Venables (left Ireland 1654)
• 1660–1661: Sir Robert Stewart (second term)
• 1661–: Colonel John Gorges
• 1678–1688: John Skeffington, 2nd Viscount Massereene
• 1688–1689: Colonel Robert Lundy (deserted 1689)
• 1689: Sir George Walker / Henry Baker (died 1689)(jointly)
• 1690: John Mitchelburne
• 1691–1699: Sir Matthew Bridges
• 1699–1714: Clotworthy Skeffington, 3rd Viscount Massereene
• 1714–1719: Thomas Meredyth
• 1719–1734?: Henry Barry, 3rd Baron Barry of Santry
• 1735?–1737: Lieutenant-General Owen Wynne
• 1737–1739: Lieutenant-General Thomas Pearce
• 1739–1740: Charles Cathcart, 8th Lord Cathcart
• 1745–1749: Lieutenant-General Phineas Bowles
• 1749–1756: Lieutenant-General Henry Cornewall
• 1756–1774: Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Rich, 5th Bt
• 1774–1775: General Sir George Augustus Eliott
• 1775–1776: General Sir John Irwin
• 1776–1806: John Hale
• 1806: General The 1st Baron Hutchinson
• 1806–1820: General The 15th Earl of Suffolk
• 1820–1832: Lieutenant-General George Vaughan Hart, M.P.
• 1832–1860: Field Marshal The 1st Earl of Strafford