Sir William Gooch, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir William Gooch, Bt
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| Governor of Virginia | |
| In office 1727–1749 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | James Blair |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Lee |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 October 1681 Great Yarmouth, England |
| Died | 17 December 1751 (aged 70) London, England |
| Spouse | Rebecca Staunton (m. 1714) |
| Children | William Gooch |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain |
| Branch/service |  British Army |
Sir William Gooch (born October 21, 1681 – died December 17, 1751) was a British Army officer. He also worked as a colonial administrator. He served as the governor of Virginia from 1727 to 1749.
Even though he was called the Royal Lieutenant Governor, Sir William Gooch was the real leader. The official governors, Lord Orkney and Lord Albemarle, stayed in England. They did not have much power in Virginia. Gooch was known for being very good at his job as governor.
One of his biggest achievements was helping pass the Tobacco Inspection Act of 1730. This law made sure that Virginia's tobacco was checked and controlled. Tobacco was the most important crop in the colony.
Farmers had to take their tobacco to special warehouses. There, it was inspected and stored. This law made Virginia's tobacco better quality. It also stopped people from cheating. This made people in Europe want Virginia tobacco even more.
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Sir William Gooch: Governor of Virginia
Gooch wanted to protect Virginia's western lands. He worked to keep Native American groups and the French from moving in. He encouraged people to settle in the Shenandoah Valley. This area would act like a shield for the rest of the colony. It would also stop the French from claiming the land.
In the early 1730s, settling the West was hard. The Iroquois people often traveled through the area. Gooch decided to make peace between the Six Nations and their southern enemies. He wanted to stop the fighting. He hired Conrad Weiser to help with talks in 1736 and 1737. Weiser helped create a peace agreement. This allowed Gooch to let people settle the Shenandoah Valley.
Military Adventures and Service
Sir William Gooch had a strong military background. He fought under John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough in battles in the Low Countries. He was also a colonel in Gooch's American Regiment. He joined Admiral Edward Vernon in his trip against Cartagena, New Grenada (now in Colombia). This was part of the War of Jenkins' Ear.
During King George's War, Gooch was asked to lead the army that would invade Canada. But he chose not to take the job. He was given the title of baronet in 1746. This is a special honor from the King. In 1747, he became a major general. Also in 1747, Gooch spoke out about religious groups. He supported the Church of England as the main church. However, in 1738, he had allowed Presbyterians to settle new lands. This was under the rules of the English Act of Toleration. In 1749, Gooch left Virginia and went back to England.
Family and Legacy
Gooch married Rebecca Staunton. She was the daughter of a wealthy landowner in Middlesex, England. The city of Staunton, Virginia, is named after her.
They had a son named William. He grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia. William became a naval officer. Sadly, he died at age 26 from a sickness called "bloody flux." This happened just before his parents returned to England.
Goochland County, Virginia, was named after Sir William Gooch in 1727. A building at The College of William & Mary is also named in his honor.
Images for kids
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The coat of arms for the Gooch family.
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