The Baron Radstock | |
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Born | 9 July 1753 |
Died | 20 August 1825 London, England | (aged 72)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1766–1802 |
Rank | Admiral of the Red |
Commands held | HMS Zephyr |
Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Spouse(s) | Cornelia Jacoba van Lennep |
Children | 9, including Granville |
Admiral William Waldegrave, 1st Baron Radstock, GCB (9 July 1753 – 20 August 1825) was an officer in the Royal Navy and Governor of Newfoundland.
Waldegrave was the second son of John Waldegrave, 3rd Earl Waldegrave, and Elizabeth (née Gower). He was educated at Eton.
Waldegrave was appointed the Governor of Newfoundland, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon on 16 May 1797.
During Waldegrave's time as governor, he was chiefly concerned with military matters, as a French squadron had burned Bay Bulls just a year prior, and Newfoundland was still quite exposed. Another key problem was desertion, as soldiers deserting to Newfoundland were generally sheltered by the island's inhabitants. A naval mutiny occurred shortly after Waldegrave's appointment and had to be stopped; Waldegrave also took steps to ensure that soldiers garrisoned in St John's did not try anything similar. In military matters, he was often at odds with his commander, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Skinner.
Waldegrave made several attempts to restrict the power of the merchants on Newfoundland, and also to bring law and order to the island. Although his efforts against the merchants were largely ineffective, Waldegrave was successful in having a chief justice appointed who would reside year-round. Waldegrave also undertook various humanitarian projects, especially to help the poor. He established a "Committee for the Relief of the Poor", and contributed generously to the fund. Between 1797 and 1798, nearly 300 people received assistance from this fund.
Waldegrave completed his term as governor in 1800.
Waldegrave was created a peer as Baron Radstock, of Castletown in the Queen's County in the Peerage of Ireland in 1800 on the completion of his term as Governor of Newfoundland.[3] In 1802, upon his retirement from the Navy, Waldegrave was promoted to full admiral.[1] In 1815 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB).
Waldegrave was married in 1785 to Cornelia Jacoba van Lennep (17 September 1753 – 10 October 1839). They had three sons and six daughters:
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