Richard Philipps

Richard Philipps
Portrait of Richard Philipps
Governor of Nova Scotia
In office
1717–1749
MonarchGeorge I
Personal details
Bornc. 1661
Died14 October 1750
Military service
Allegiance Great Britain
RankGeneral
Battles/warsBattle of the Boyne

General Richard Philipps (c. 1661 – 14 October 1750) was said to have been in the employ of William III as a young man and for his service gained the rank of captain in the British army. He served at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1712.[1]

He raised the 40th Regiment of Foot in August 1717.[2] In 1717 he was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia by George I.[1] He arrived in Annapolis Royal in 1720, created the Nova Scotia Council and in 1722 returned to England. He made another visit to Nova Scotia and persuaded the Acadian French to swear allegiance to the British Government. He returned again to England about 1731.[1] During the early years he evidently was an active and responsible governor. After 1731 his interest in the province was much reduced. Because of absences and laterally, waning interest, the roles of those acting for the Governor were greatly enhanced. They were: John Doucett, (1717–1725); Lawrence Armstrong, (1725–1739); Alexander Cosby, 1739–1740; Paul Mascarene, (1740–1749). At that point Edward Cornwallis was appointed Governor.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Sutherland, Maxwell (1974). "Philipps, Richard". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. III (1741–1770) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  2. ^ Smythies, Captain Raymond R. H. (1894). Historical Records of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment. Devonport: A. H. Swiss. p. 1.
  3. ^ Reid, John G. (16 January 2013). "The Three Lives of Edward Cornwallis" (PDF). The Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society. Retrieved 18 September 2021.