John Reynolds (Royal Navy officer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Reynolds
Portrait of Reynolds by Jeremiah Theus
5th Colonial Governor of Georgia
In office 1754–1757
Monarch	George II
Preceded by	Patrick Graham
Succeeded by	Henry Ellis
Personal details
Born	1713 England
Died	3 February 1788 London, England
Spouse	Maria Catharina Langin
Profession	governor
Signature

John Reynolds (born around 1713 – died February 3, 1788) was an important officer in the Royal Navy, which is the British navy. He served as the royal governor of the Province of Georgia from 1754 to 1757. After a long career, he became an admiral shortly before he passed away.

Early Life and Naval Career

John Reynolds joined the Navy in 1728 when he was about 15 years old. He started as a "volunteer" on a ship called HMS Aldborough. He served on this ship for six years.

In 1736, he was promoted to lieutenant. This was an important step in his naval career.

Serving in the War of the Austrian Succession

During the War of the Austrian Succession, which started in 1739, Reynolds continued to serve. He was on different ships, including HMS Argyll and HMS Jersey.

In 1745, he became the commander of a fireship called HMS Scipio. Later, he commanded HMS Arundel. With this ship, he helped protect British trade in the English Channel and the North Sea.

Fighting Pirates in America

In 1748, Reynolds sailed to Charles Town (now Charleston, South Carolina). He was ordered to patrol the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and the Bahamas. This area was known for pirates. He spent more than two years fighting pirates before returning to England in 1751.

Governor of Georgia

After his time fighting pirates, John Reynolds looked for a new job. Like many officials back then, he got his positions through "patronage." This means powerful people helped him get jobs. A very important person, Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, helped him become the new governor of royal Georgia in 1754.

Arrival in Georgia

Reynolds arrived in Savannah on October 29, 1754. The people of Georgia were very excited to see him. They hoped he would bring a better future for their colony. They wanted a stronger government, more land, better protection, and a successful economy.

However, Reynolds saw Georgia as a poor colony. He felt his salary of £600 a year would not be enough because living there was expensive.

Setting Up the Government

Following instructions from the British government, Reynolds set up the new royal government in Georgia. This included creating courts, a council, and a group called the Commons House of Assembly.

He faced a challenge from a politician named Edmund Gray. Gray tried to cause trouble and control votes in the Georgia legislature. Reynolds was strong and made sure the assembly removed Gray's group in January 1755.

Challenges and Conflicts

Reynolds's plans for defending Georgia were not very successful. He asked the British government for many more troops and forts, but they refused.

He also upset the Creek Native Americans. He called a meeting with their chiefs in Augusta to improve relations. But he left after only ten days, leaving the negotiations to someone else. This disappointed the Creek leaders.

Reynolds acted more like a naval commander than a civil leader. He expected people to obey him immediately and did not like it when his authority was questioned. He also openly said he would leave Georgia if he found a better job.

Trouble with the Council

Reynolds quickly angered the council members. He refused to share his official instructions, which explained how the new government should work. He only told them small parts of the document when he thought it was necessary.

The council members wanted to understand their roles and make sure the governor did not have too much power. They questioned and debated almost everything he did.

Much of their anger was directed at William Little, Reynolds's secretary. Little was a former naval surgeon and a friend of Reynolds. The governor gave Little six extra jobs, including clerk of the Assembly and commissioner of Indian affairs. The council complained that Little was interfering in government and being dishonest. Reynolds insisted he had the right to decide what officials could do. He even removed a council member, Clement Martin, to show his power. Reynolds continued to argue with important council members like James Habersham and Noble W. Jones.

End of His Term as Governor

By early 1756, members of the House of Assembly also became unhappy with Governor Reynolds. He dissolved the legislature when it seemed they might challenge him.

Eventually, complaints about Reynolds and Little reached the Board of Trade in England. The board decided to recall Reynolds and ordered him to return to England to explain his actions. They sent Henry Ellis to replace him.

Reynolds handed over the government to Ellis on February 16, 1757. He delayed his return to England to gather information for his defense. On his way back, he was briefly captured by the French. When the board finally heard his case in 1758, he was not punished, but he was ordered to resign as governor.

Reynolds's time as governor caused problems for Georgia. It led to less money for the colony and gave it a bad reputation for new settlers. However, the leaders in Georgia learned important lessons about how to work with (and sometimes challenge) royal governors. This helped them build better relationships with future officials until the American Revolutionary War (1775–83).

Later Naval Career

After his time as governor, Reynolds returned to his naval career.

Serving in the Seven Years' War

In May 1759, he was given command of HMS Firm, a 60-gun ship. He joined the British fleet off Brest. He was later in charge of a group of ships near Quiberon Bay.

He continued to serve during the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), commanding other ships like HMS Temple and the frigate HMS Milford until the war ended in 1763.

Later Life and Promotions

After the war, Reynolds lived in Newington Butts, England. From 1766 to 1768, he commanded HMS Fame, a guardship at Plymouth. He also commanded HMS Burford and HMS Defence, taking troops to Gibraltar in 1770.

John Reynolds continued to rise through the ranks of the Royal Navy.

• On March 31, 1775, he was promoted to rear admiral.
• On January 29, 1778, he became a vice admiral.
• Finally, on September 24, 1787, he reached the highest rank of admiral.

He passed away in London on February 3, 1788.

Legacy and Family

Reynolds Square in Savannah, Georgia, is named after him.

John Reynolds married Maria Catharina Langin in 1761. She was from a German Protestant family who had moved to Georgia. Their daughter, Maria Catharina Reynolds, later married a man named James Sowerby. Reynolds also had a son, George, who became a naval officer like him.