John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace of Hurley
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| 2nd Colonial Governor of New Jersey | |
| In office March 1708 – 6 May 1709 |
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| Monarch | Anne |
| Lieutenant | Richard Ingoldesby |
| Preceded by | Viscount Cornbury |
| Succeeded by | Richard Ingoldesby (Lt. Governor) |
| 15th Colonial Governor of New York | |
| In office March 1708 – 6 May 1709 |
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| Monarch | Anne |
| Lieutenant | Richard Ingoldesby |
| Preceded by | Viscount Cornbury |
| Succeeded by | Richard Ingoldsby (Acting Governor) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1672 England |
| Died | 6 May 1709 (aged 36–37) New York City |
| Resting place | Trinity Church Cemetery, New York City |
| Spouse | Charlotte Clayton |
| Children | John, Charlotte, Charles, Neville & Wentworth (twins), Martha |
| Profession | Governor |
| Signature | .png) |
John Lovelace, the 4th Baron Lovelace (1672–1709), was an important leader who served as the Governor of both New York and New Jersey in the early 1700s.
Contents
John Lovelace's Early Life
John Lovelace was born in England in 1672. His father was William Lovelace. John came from a noble family, meaning they had a special title and history. However, his family's money was not in good shape. His grandfather, the 3rd Baron Lovelace, had spent a lot of the family's wealth. This left John with many debts.
Because of these financial problems, John joined the military. In 1701, he married Charlotte Clayton. Her father was Sir John Clayton. Unfortunately, Charlotte's family did not have much money to bring into the marriage. This meant John's financial situation did not get much better.
John and Charlotte had six children:
- John (who died in 1709)
- Charlotte (who died in 1705)
- Charles (who died in 1707)
- Wentworth (who died in 1709)
- Neville (who died in 1736)
- Martha (who died in 1788), who later married Lord Henry Beauclerk in 1739.
How People Described Him
We don't have any pictures of John Lovelace today. But in 1705, a writer named John Macky described him. Macky said Lovelace was a "very pretty gentleman" with "good sense." He was also "well at court," meaning he was respected by the king or queen. Macky described him as "a short, fat brown man, not forty years old."
Becoming Governor of New York and New Jersey
On March 21, 1708, John Lovelace was chosen to be the new governor. He would govern both the colony of New York and the colony of New Jersey. He took over from the previous governor, Lord Cornbury.
The Journey to America
Getting to America was a long and difficult trip. Governor Lovelace, his wife, and three of their sons (John, Wentworth, and Neville) traveled across the Atlantic Ocean. Their journey lasted nine weeks. They finally arrived in New York on December 18, 1708.
His Time as Governor
The people in both colonies welcomed Governor Lovelace. He quickly started to deal with problems left by the previous governor. He took action against some of Lord Cornbury's supporters. These people were part of a group known as the "Cornbury Ring." They were involved in dishonest activities. One person he convicted was former Governor Jeremiah Basse.
On May 5, 1709, the government approved a payment of £1,600 for Lord Lovelace. This was a large sum of money at the time.
Sad End and Legacy
John Lovelace's time as governor was very short. During his last month in office, two of his sons, John and Wentworth, passed away. They likely died from pneumonia. Just one day later, on May 6, 1709, Governor Lovelace himself died.
His funeral was held at Trinity Church in New York City. He was buried there on May 12, 1709. His wife, Lady Charlotte, and their two-year-old son Neville returned to London. Their daughter Martha was born there on December 11, 1709, after her father had passed away.
