Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of, 1731-1801

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This volume contains a list of offices and office holders in the North American and West Indian colonies created by the British Secretary of State of the colonies in 1775. The item was created by or for William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth, who was Secretary of State from 1772 through November of 1775, when he resigned and was replaced by Lord Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville. The official title for this cabinet level office was "Colonial Secretary," a position created in 1768 to help manage the unruly American colonies.

From the guide to the Great Britain. Secretary of State. A List of Offices in the North American and West Indian Colonies, 1775, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)

British Statesman.

From the description of William Legge Dartmouth papers, 1766-1775 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 316855532

Earl of Dartmouth, Secretary of State for the American Colonies (1772-1775).

From the description of Papers, 1766-1782. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 50750678

British philanthropist and statesman.

William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth, was born on June 20, 1731, and died on July 15, 1801 in Blackheath Kent. He played a significant role in the events leading to the American War of Independence. In May 1754, he took his seat in the House of Lords, and became the First Lord of Trade in the administration of the Marquess of Rockingham. He became a member of the Privy Council in July 1765. In 1772, he became Secretary of State for the Colonies.

In the ministry of his half-brother, Lord North. Faced with hostility in the Colonies, he recognised Benjamin Franklin as colonial agent, and adopted a policy of delay to allow tensions to abate. When it failed he sought moderate measures to secure colonial dependence on Britain, but rejected proposals of the Continental Congress. Unwilling to declare war on the colonies, he resigned his offices in November 1775, but remained Lord Privy Seal until the fall of Lord North's administration in 1782.

From the description of Papers, 1766-1782. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 49668552

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of, 1731-1801. Papers, 1766-1782. University of Florida
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume IV, Miscellany, 1756-1807 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Williamson, Joseph, 1828-1902,. Lansdowne and Dartmouth papers, 1772-1779, undated. Maine Historical Society Library
referencedIn Wright, James, Sir, 1716-1785. James Wright papers, 1772-1784. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Great Britain. Parliament. Remembrances for order and decency to be kept in the Upper House of Parliament by the Lords when His Majesty is not there, leaving the solemnity belonging to His Majesty's coming to be marshall'd by those Lords to whom it more properly appertains, [17--]. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Sandwich, John Montagu, Earl of, 1718-1792. Document signed : St. James's, to Richard Myddelton, custos rotulorum of the county of Denbigh, 1776 Nov. 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Letters of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., collected and edited by George Birkbeck Hill, extra-illustrated, 1413-1900 (inclusive), 1775-1839 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
referencedIn George Sackville Germain papers 1683-1785 Germain, George Sackville papers William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Colden, Cadwallader, 1688-1776. Cadwallader Colden Papers, 1677-1832 (bulk 1711-1775). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Dorchester, Guy Carleton, Baron, 1724-1808. Papers of Guy Carleton, Baron Dorchester, 1774-1777. Library of Congress
referencedIn Thomas Gage papers 1754-1807 1759-1775 Gage, Thomas, papers William L. Clements Library
referencedIn De Brahm, John Gerar William, 1717-ca. 1799. Papers, 1766-1782. University of Florida
creatorOf Gordon, William, 1728-1807. Papers related to William Gordon, 1772-1928; bulk: 1772-1799. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of, 1731-1801. [Military commission certificate for Colin Campbell, 1775 July 17]. New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Wheelock, Eleazar, 1711-1779. Letter, 1766 August 1, Lebanon, to Jared Ingersoll [n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of, 1731-1801. William Legge Dartmouth papers, 1766-1775 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn De Brahm, John Gerar William, 1717-ca. 1799. Hydro-geographical map representing part of Sandwich Gulf, and of the New Bahama Channel, the northernmost extent of the Martir Reefs ; Dartmouth and Heppel inlets, as also part of the main westward of Cape Florida, on which main is laid out the right honourable the Earl of Dartmouth, his territory ... : From the actual surveys and observations of / William Gerrard de Brahm esqr. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Great Britain. Secretary of State. A List of Offices in the North American and West Indian Colonies 1775 Great Britain. Secretary of State. A List of Offices in the North American and West Indian Colonies William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. Letter, 1772 December 8 [n.p.], to Lord Dartmouth [n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of, 1731-1801. Letter signed : Whitehall, to Sir William Johnson, 1773 Apr. 10. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Sackville, George Germain, Viscount, 1716-1785. George Sackville Germain papers, 1683-1785. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of, 1731-1801. Papers, 1766-1782. University of Florida
referencedIn Wheelock, Eleazar, 1711-1779. Letter, 1779 February 6, Hanover, N.H., to Gen. Gates, [n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of, 1731-1801. Great Britain. Secretary of State. A List of Offices in the North American and West Indian Colonies, 1775. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Gates, Horatio, 1728-1806. American Revolution collection : military matters, 18th-20th centuries. Lexington Historical Society
referencedIn Dunmore, John Murray, Earl of, 1732-1809. Correspondence, 1771-1778. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Habersham, James, 1715-1775. James Habersham papers, 1747-1775 Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Purcell, Joseph. A map of the southern Indian district of North America / compiled under the direction of John Stuart, his majesty's superintendent of Indian affairs and by him humbly inscribed to the Earl of Dartmouth his majesty's principal secretary of state for the colonies & ca. & ca. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Minto, Gilbert Elliot, 3rd bart., 1722-1777. Tea party papers, 1773-1774. Houghton Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Gage, Thomas, 1721-1787. Thomas Gage papers, 1754-1807, bulk 1759-1775. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of, 1731-1801. Autograph signature to an order : Council chamber at St. James's, 1776 Nov. 8th. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Frederick Smyth papers, 1756-1816, 1756-1816 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Dunmore, John Murray, Earl of, 1732-1809. Correspondence. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Guy Johnson papers, 1773-1831 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abbott, Edward. person
associatedWith Campbell, Colin. person
associatedWith Cape Florida Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Colden, Cadwallader, 1688-1776. person
associatedWith De Brahm, John Gerar William, 1717-ca. 1799. person
correspondedWith DeBrahm, William G. person
associatedWith Dorchester, Guy Carleton, Baron, 1724-1808. person
associatedWith Dunmore, John Murray, Earl of, 1732-1809. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. person
associatedWith Franklin, William, 1731-1813 person
associatedWith Gage, Thomas, 1721-1787. person
associatedWith Gordon, William, 1728-1807. person
associatedWith Great Britain. Colonial Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Great Britain. Parliament. corporateBody
associatedWith Habersham, James, 1715-1775. person
associatedWith Hamilton, Henry, d. 1796. person
associatedWith Hesse, George. person
associatedWith John Leslie and Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Johnson, Guy, ca. 1740-1788. person
correspondedWith Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784 person
associatedWith Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774, person
associatedWith Minto, Gilbert Elliot, 3rd bart., 1722-1777. person
associatedWith Purcell, Joseph. person
associatedWith Sackville, George Germain, Viscount, 1716-1785. person
associatedWith Sandwich, John Montagu, Earl of, 1718-1792. person
associatedWith Smyth, Frederick, 1732-1815 person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Wheelock, Eleazar, 1711-1779. person
associatedWith Williamson, Joseph, 1828-1902, person
associatedWith Wright, James, Sir, 1716-1785. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Great Britain
Georgia.
Senegambia.
New Jersey.
Nova Scotia.
St. John's (N.L.)
Canada
Massachusetts.
United States
East Florida.
Leeward Islands (Federation)
Bahamas.
United States
Florida--12000
Great Britain
Barbados.
Québec (Québec)
Great Britain
America
Bermuda.
North Carolina.
New York (State)
West Indies
Spain
East Florida
South Carolina.
Florida--12000
Jamaica.
Florida
Virginia.
United States
Dominica.
West Florida.
West Indies
New Hampshire.
Detroit (Mich.)
Grenada.
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Subject
Authors
Colonies
Geographers
Indian traders
Military engineers
Naturalists
Philanthropists
Slave trade
Surveyors
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1731-06-20

Death 1801-07-15

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