Sir Richard Everard, 4th Baronet
|
His Excellency Sir Richard Everard |
|
|---|---|
| 4th Governor of North Carolina | |
|
In office 1725–1731 |
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| Monarch | |
| Preceded by | George Burrington |
| Succeeded by | George Burrington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1683 |
| Died | 17 February 1733 |
| Spouse(s) | Susannah Kidder |
Sir Richard Everard, 4th Baronet (c. 1683-17 February 1733) was a British administrator who served as the fourth Governor of North Carolina, serving from 1725 to 1731.
The previous governor, George Burrington, had been removed from office in 1725 by the Lords Proprietors, following many complaints by colonists about his behavior (Burrington was known principally for physically threatening other North Carolina officials).
Everard petitioned for the position, was granted it, and sailed for America. He was sworn in on 17 July 1725 as "governor, captain general, admiral, and commander-in-chief of the colony." In November of that year, Everard terminated (prorogued) the session of the Assembly of the Province, but refused to explain his reasons. The assembly then declared their prorogation was illegal and an infringement upon liberty, notifying the Lords Proprietors. They deplored the loss of ex-governor Burrington and expressed concern at the prospect "of so vile an administration". Everard then involved himself in disputes over the character of Rev. Thomas Bailey, who had defended Burrington.
Burrington, who had remained in the colony, nearly came to blows with Everard on 15 November 1725, asking Everard's servants, "Are all you country men such fools as Sir Richard Everard? He is a noodle, an ape...not more fit to be a governor than a hog in the woods."
Burrington again sought out Everard at his home on 2 December 1725, but was refused admittance. "Come out," demanded Burrington, "I want satisfaction of you for saying you would send me to England in irons. Therefore come out and give it me, you Everard, you a Knight, you a Baronet, you a Governor. You are a Sancho Panza, and I'll take care of you, numbskull head." (This episode led to procedures at law in which several depositions were taken.) The Assembly, meeting again in April, 1726, issued a catalogue of grievances, and was promptly prorogued once more by Everard.
Everard also had belligerent episodes with Edmund Porter, Dr. George Allen, and John Lovick. Everard's enemies in England maintained that he was "too much given to intoxication", though the Provincial Council, asked to voice its opinion on the matter, stated that Everard had never been publicly drunk.
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