George Johnstone

George Johnstone (1730 – May 24, 1787) is an officer of the Royal Navy who sees service during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence, rising to the rank of post-captain and serving for a time as commodore of a squadron.

In a multifaceted career he is 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 is born into a gentry family in 1730, and embarks on a naval career.

Early in his service there occur several incidents that reveal both positive and negative aspects of his character.

He is involved in encounters with the enemy where he is praised for his bravery, and incidents where he is censured for disobedience.

He rises through the ranks to his own commands and has some success with small cruisers against enemy merchants and privateers.

After the end of the Seven Years' War he makes friends with several powerful figures, and is appointed Governor of West Florida.

He achieves some degree of success in the delicate operations of running a new colony, but ultimately clashes with his political masters and fails to cultivate support among the wider sections of colonial society.

Returning to Britain he becomes 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 leads to his appointment as a member of the Carlisle Peace Commission, but he is accused of offering bribes and the Americans will have nothing to do with him.

Returning to active naval service with a lucrative posting as commodore, he cruises with success off Portugal, and is then entrusted with a secret mission to capture the Cape Colony from the Dutch Republic.

While en route to the Cape, he is surprised by a French force sent to thwart his goal, and though he fights it off at the Battle of Porto Praya, he allows the French to push on and reinforce the Cape.

Thwarted in his mission, he has some consolation in discovering a valuable fleet of Dutch merchants, and capturing most of them.

Returning to politics in England after the war he speaks on a number of issues, but is not asked to join an administration.

He becomes a director of the East India Company towards the end of his life, before illness forces him to retire from business and politics shortly before his death in 1787.

No related events match the current filters.