John LeMarchant
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Sir John Gaspar LeMarchant (1803 – 1874) army officer and governor of Newfoundland from 1847 to 1852. He was criticized for misappropriation of relief funds collected for the 1846 fire victims of the June 1846 fire that devastated most of St. John's.
LeMarchant was born in England and educated at Royal Military College, Sandhurst. At age seventeen LeMarchant had attained officer rank and was knighted in 1838 for his service in Spain. In 1847 he reluctantly accepted the governorship of Newfoundland which proved to be a very unpopular position. It was noted by an observer in his regard for the people of Newfoundland;
- in no other light than as soldiers on furlough, and the seat of Government as a barrack yard.
LeMarchant was opposed to the idea of responsible government and condemned local merchants of amassing wealth in the Colony and then returning to England. After the fire of 1846 funds were collected for the victims and LeMarchant acting upon Robert Law's recommendation that no further money be given to victims LeMarchant then directed funds to the repair of public buildings and construction of roads in St. John's and the outports. LeMarchant left Newfoundland in 1852 and the served a term as Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia which he then continued in colonial administration in Malta and Madras.
LeMarchant Road, a prominent street in St. John's is named in his honour.
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| Political Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Sir John Harvey |
Civil Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador 1847-1852 |
Succeeded by: Ker Baillie Hamilton |
| Preceded by: John Bazalgette |
Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia 1852-1858 |
Succeeded by: George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby |
- Note: The year after Sir John Harvey had stepped down as governor of Newfoundland and when Sir John LeMarchant was appointed, the colony was administered by Robert Law a British army officer.
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