| Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Baronet | |
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| In office 2 August 1760 – 1 August 1769 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Hutchinson |
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| Succeeded by | Thomas Hutchinson |
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| Born | 1712 Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Berkshire, England |
| Died | 16 June 1779 Nether Winchendon, Buckinghamshire, England |
Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Baronet (1712 – 16 June 1779) was a British colonial administrator who served as Governor in New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Francis was born in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Berkshire (part of Oxfordshire since 1974), England to the Rev. Francis and Margery Bernard and was christened on 12 July 1712. He was first educated at St. Peter's College and then spent seven years at Oxford, where Christ Church granted him a master of arts in 1736. A man of considerable intelligence, it was reported that he could recite entire plays of Shakespeare from memory. He read law and was admitted to the bar in 1737.
Francis married Amelia Offley in 1741 and the couple raised a large family. They had at least 9 surviving children, and more who died as infants. Indeed John Adams later described governor Bernard as "... avaricious to a most infamous degree; needy at the same time, having a numerous family to provide for."
New Jersey Royal Governor
He was appointed governor of New Jersey January 27, 1758, and arrived at Perth Amboy on 14 June. He won a good reputation and some popularity here by promoting mutual defense activities with other colonies. He also negotiated treaties to bring an end to Indian raids on the colony's frontiers on the upper Delaware River valley. His efforts did much to gain New Jersey's active support during the latter part of the French and Indian War. His work was rewarded by appointment to the post of Governor of Massachusetts. On behalf of King George II of England, Bernard established thru a patent charter on May 24, 1760, the founding of Bernardston, New Jersey, later renamed Bernards Township and Bernardsville. Quoted "Witness our trusty and well beloved Francis Bernard, Esq., our captain general and governor in chief of our said province of New Jersey and territories thereon depending in america Chancellor and Vice-admiral in the same at our city of Perty Amboy in our said provice the twenty-forth day of May in the thirty third year of our reign and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty." His service as Royal Governor of New Jersey ended on July 4, 1760.
Bernard was appointed governor of Massachusetts in late 1759, but delays in communications and travel were such that he didn't arrive in Boston until 2 August 1760. Although initially well received, his tenure in Massachusetts was less satisfactory, where he was responsible for enforcing unpopular laws and taxes. His difficulties started when he issued Writs of Assistance in 1760 to custom's tax collectors. They continued through other tax measures, including the Stamp Act. By November 1768 he was burned in effigy by a mob in New York City. Finally, the turbulence increased to the point where the colonial assembly petitioned the crown that "he might be forever removed from the Government of the Province." In 1769 he was replaced by Thomas Hutchinson and recalled to England. When he left Boston on 1 August, the town held an impromptu celebration, decorated the Liberty Tree and ringing church bells.
Among his accomplishments in Massachusetts was the design of Harvard Hall at Harvard University, and the completion of a governor's mansion in present day Jamaica Plain near Jamaica Pond in Boston.[1] The plan for Bernardstown, Massachusetts was laid out during his administration and is named for him. Bernard also named the Berkshires and Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
During his time in Massachusetts, Francis Bernard kept in close touch with English contemporaries and retained London's Lincoln's Inn barrister Levett Blackborne (grandson of the Lord Mayor of London) – referred to as Bernard's 'London man of business' in his correspondence introducing associate "Mr. Rogers of Boston" to Blackborne – as his agent.[2]
On his return to England, he was made a baronet while living at Nettleham Lincolnshire for his services and later served the British government as a commissioner on the Board of Revenue for Ireland. He died on 16 June 1779 at Nether Winchendon in Buckinghamshire, England.
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| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by John Reading (President Of Council) |
Governors of the Colony of New Jersey 1758 – 1760 |
Succeeded by Thomas Boone |
| Preceded by Thomas Hutchinson (acting) |
Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony 2 August 1760 – 1 August 1769 |
Succeeded by Thomas Hutchinson (acting) |
| Baronetage of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by new creation |
Baronet (of Nettleham) 1769 – 1779 |
Succeeded by John Bernard |
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