Henry Ellis (governor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Ellis
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| 6th colonial governor of Georgia | |
| In office May 17, 1758 – November 1760 |
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| Lieutenant | Jonathan Belcher |
| Preceded by | John Reynolds |
| Succeeded by | James Wright |
| Governor of Nova Scotia | |
| In office 1760–1763 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Lawrence |
| Succeeded by | Montague Wilmot |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 29, 1721 County Monaghan, Ireland |
| Died | January 21, 1806 (aged 84) Naples, Italy |
| Profession | Explorer, author, and governor |
| Signature | .png) |
Henry Ellis (born August 29, 1721 – died January 21, 1806) was an Irish explorer and writer. He also served as the governor of the colonies of Georgia and Nova Scotia.
Early Life and Explorations
Henry Ellis was born on August 29, 1721, in County Monaghan, Ireland. His parents were Francis and Joan Ellis. He later studied law in London, England.
In May 1746, Henry Ellis joined a group that wanted to find the Northwest Passage. This was a sea route through North America to Asia. During his journey, a fire broke out on his ship, which was difficult to put out.
He sailed to Greenland and traded goods with the Inuit people on July 8. Then, he continued to Fort Nelson and spent the winter in Hayes River. He tried again to find the passage in June 1747 but was not successful. He returned to England on October 14.
After his travels, Ellis wrote about his adventures. In 1748, he published a book called A voyage to Hudson's-Bay by the Dobbs Galley and California in the years 1746 and 1747 for discovering a North West Passage. He also wrote another book in 1750 about the benefits of finding the Northwest Passage. Because of his work, he became a member of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists.
Governor of Georgia
On August 15, 1756, Henry Ellis was chosen to be the lieutenant governor of Georgia. This decision was made by Lord Halifax, who was in charge of trade.
Ellis arrived in Savannah, Georgia, on February 16, 1757. On May 17, 1758, he became the official royal governor. People thought he did a very good job leading the colony.
He understood that nearby groups could be a threat. So, he made a peace agreement with the Creeks people. In 1758, he also wrote an article called "Heat of the Weather in Georgia" for a science journal.
The hot, humid climate of Georgia was hard on his health. Because of this, he had to leave his role as governor. He left Georgia on November 2, 1760. On his way back, he stopped in New York to ask for military help for the southern colonies.
Later Life and Legacy
After returning to England, Henry Ellis shared his knowledge about the American colonies. He helped develop ideas on how to manage them. For his service, he received special jobs that paid well but did not require much work.
From 1761 to 1763, he was named governor of Nova Scotia. However, he did not actually take on the duties of this job. Later, he lived in Italy and spent most of his time doing scientific research. Before he passed away, he became good friends with a leader of the Creek people.
Death
Henry Ellis died on January 21, 1806, in Naples, Italy. He was 84 or 85 years old.
Legacy
Two places are named after Henry Ellis. These are Fort Ellis in Nova Scotia and Ellis Square in Savannah, Georgia.
