| Jonathan Belcher | |
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| In office August 10, 1730 – September 7, 1741 |
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| Preceded by | William Tailer |
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| Succeeded by | William Shirley |
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| Born | January 8, 1682 Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Died | August 31, 1757 |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Partridge Belcher |
| Children | Jonathan Belcher Andrew Belcher |
Jonathan Belcher (January 8, 1682 – August 31, 1757) was colonial governor of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.
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Life
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he attended Harvard University.
In 1718, Belcher was elected to the Massachusetts council and became colonial governor when his predecessor died. Initially accepted by Boston, his popularity decreased when he brought the censure of the English government. He was later appointed governor of the province of New Jersey and assisted in the founding of the College of New Jersey (now known as Princeton University), including building the library for the new school.
Family
His first wife, Mary Partridge Belcher (1685-1736), was the daughter of Lt. Gov. William Partridge, and a sister was the wife of Lt. Gov. George Vaughn. One of his sons, Jonathan Belcher, was the Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court and Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. His other son, Andrew Belcher, served on the Massachusetts Governor's Council.
He was the uncle of Lt. Gov Andrew Oliver and Chief Justice Peter Oliver, and was also the great-grandfather of Admiral Edward Belcher.
His great-nephew Peter Oliver, Jr., was the husband of the daughter of Governor of Massachusetts Thomas Hutchinson. Thomas Hutchinson and his wife Margaret Sanford were descendants of Anne Hutchinson, a descendant of William the Conqueror. Margaret (Sanford) Hutchinson was a descendant of Rhode Island Governors Peleg Sanford and William Coddington.
Memory
Belchertown, in western Massachusetts, is named for him.
External links
- Biography of Jonathan Belcher, New Jersey State Library
- Official Massachusetts Governor Biography
- Works by or about Jonathan Belcher in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by William Tailer (acting) |
Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony August 10, 1730 – August 14, 1741 |
Succeeded by William Shirley |
| Preceded by John Reading |
New Jersey Governor 1747–1757 |
Succeeded by John Reading |
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