William Dummer

William Dummer
Lieutenant governor of Massachusetts
In office October 15, 1716 – June 11, 1730
Preceded by	William Tailer
Succeeded by	William Tailer
Governor of Massachusetts
In office January 2, 1723 – July 19, 1728
Preceded by	Samuel Shute
Succeeded by	William Burnet
In office September 10, 1729 – June 11, 1730
Preceded by	William Burnet
Succeeded by	William Tailer (acting)
Personal details
Born	c. 1677 Boston, Massachusetts
Died	October 10, 1761(1761-10-10) (aged 84) Boston, Massachusetts
Spouse	Katherine Dudley
Profession	Politician, colonial administrator

William Dummer (bapt. October 10, 1677 – October 10, 1761) was an American-born politician and colonial administrator who spent the majority of his life in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Dummer served as the colony's lieutenant governor from 1716 to 1730, including an extended period from 1723 to 1728 when he acted as governor. He is remembered for his role in leading the colony during Dummer's War, which was fought between the British New England Colonies and a loose coalition of Indian tribes in modern-day New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

Dummer was born into a wealthy Massachusetts merchant family, traveling to England as a young man to participate in the business. Upon his return to Massachusetts in 1712 he entered provincial politics, gaining a royal commission as lieutenant governor through the efforts of his brother Jeremiah. Dummer served during the turbulent tenure of Governor Samuel Shute, in which Shute quarreled with the assembly over many matters. Shute left the province quite abruptly at the end of 1722, while it was in the middle of a war with the Indians of northern New England.

The war was brought to a successful conclusion by Dummer. He negotiated a treaty with the Abenaki people which formed the basis for a succession of later treaties. In 1728, Shute was replaced by William Burnet, whose 1+1⁄2 years in office were consumed by a vitriolic fight over his salary. Burnet died in office, and was eventually replaced in 1730 by Jonathan Belcher, who selected William Tailer to be his lieutenant.

Dummer then retired, dividing time between his farm in Byfield and his home in Boston. A proponent of education, he bequeathed funds for the establishment of a preparatory school in Massachusetts, and donated his Byfield estate for its use. For many years it was known as either the Dummer Academy or the Governor Dummer Academy, but is now called The Governor's Academy.