George Johnstone | |
|---|---|
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| 3rd Governor of British West Florida | |
| In office Oct 1764 – Jan 1767 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Farmar |
| Succeeded by | Montfort Browne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1730 Dumfriesshire, Scotland |
| Died | 24 May 1787 (aged 56–57) Hotwells, Bristol |
| Nationality | British |
| Relations |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain |
| Branch/service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1744–1787 |
| Rank | Commodore |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | |
Commodore George Johnstone (1730 – 24 May 1787) was a Royal Navy officer, politician and colonial administrator who served in the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence. In a multifaceted career he was also a member of parliament, a director of the East India Company, a member of the Carlisle Peace Commission and the first governor of West Florida from 1763 until 1767.
Johnstone was born into a Scottish gentry family in 1730, and embarked on a naval career. Early in his service there occurred several incidents which revealed both positive and negative aspects of his character. He was involved in encounters with the enemy where he was praised for his bravery, and incidents where he was censured for disobedience. He rose through the ranks to his own commands and had some success with small cruisers against enemy merchants and privateers. After the end of the Seven Years' War he had made friends with several powerful figures, and was appointed Governor of West Florida. He achieved a measure of success in the delicate operations of running a new colony, but ultimately clashed with his political masters and failed to cultivate support amongst the wider sections of colonial society. Returning to Britain he became active in politics, supporting conciliatory measures for the Americans, and the removal of government interference from the affairs of the East India Company. His stance on the former led to his appointment as a member of the Carlisle Peace Commission, but he was accused of offering bribes and the Americans would have nothing to do with him.
Returning to active naval service with a lucrative posting as commodore, he cruised with success off Portugal, and was then entrusted with a secret mission to capture the Dutch Cape Colony. While en route to the Cape Colony, he was surprised by a French fleet sent to thwart his goal, and though he fought it off at the Battle of Porto Praya, he allowed the fleet to push on and reinforce the colony. Thwarted in his mission, he had some consolation in discovering a valuable fleet of Dutch East Indiamen, and capturing most of them. Returning to politics in England after the war he spoke on a number of issues, but was not asked to join an administration. He became a director of the East India Company towards the end of his life, before illness forced him to retire from business and politics shortly before his death in 1787.