John Montgomerie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Montgomerie
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|---|---|
| 5th Royal Governor of New Jersey | |
| In office 1 April 1728 – 1 July 1731 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | William Burnet |
| Succeeded by | Lewis Morris, President of Council |
| 22nd Colonial Governor of New York | |
| In office 1728–1731 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | William Burnet |
| Succeeded by | Rip Van Dam |
| Personal details | |
| Born | unknown Beith, Scotland |
| Died | 1 July 1731 New York City |
| Occupation | Colonial administrator |
| Signature |  |
Colonel John Montgomerie (who passed away in 1731) was an important leader. He served as the governor for the colonies of New York and New Jersey from 1728 to 1731.
Contents
Early Life and Career
John Montgomerie was born in a place called Beith in Scotland. His father, Francis Montgomerie, was a significant person. He was part of the Privy Council, which was a group of advisors to the King and Queen. This included King William III, Queen Mary II, and Queen Anne. His father also owned a large estate called Castle Giffen.
When John Montgomerie got married, his father gave him another estate called Hessilhead. However, this property was later sold in 1722. This happened because of money problems that had built up over time.
Montgomerie was also a soldier. He served in the 3rd Foot Guards, which was a military group. He was also involved in politics. He was elected to Parliament for Ayrshire in Scotland. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1710 to 1722.
Becoming a Colonial Governor
In 1727, George II became the new King of Great Britain. King George II wanted to reward John Montgomerie for his service. So, he appointed Montgomerie as the governor of the New York and New Jersey colonies.
It's thought that Montgomerie might have wanted this job because he was having financial difficulties. Being a governor in the colonies was a powerful and important position.
Key Actions as Governor
During his time as governor in New York, John Montgomerie oversaw a major event. This was the creation of what became known as the Montgomerie Charter for New York City. This charter was like a rulebook for how the city would be governed. It was used for more than 100 years!
Interestingly, this important charter was never officially approved by the King. At that time, New York City set aside £1,000. This money might have been given to various colonial officials, including Montgomerie, as a payment.
While Montgomerie was governor, New York City became very successful in trade. The amount of goods it sent out to other places, called exports, grew a lot. New York's exports even became bigger than those of Boston and Philadelphia. Before this, Boston and Philadelphia were the main trading centers in the North American colonies.
Governor Montgomerie also helped to settle an important issue. He oversaw the final agreement about the borders between New York and its neighbor, the Connecticut Colony. This helped to prevent arguments over land.
End of His Term
John Montgomerie served as governor until July 1, 1731. He passed away on that date due to an epileptic seizure.
After his death, other leaders stepped in to manage things temporarily. Rip Van Dam took over in New York, and Lewis Morris took over in New Jersey. They served until the new official governor, William Cosby, arrived to take on the role.
Images for kids
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John Montgomerie's signature.
