Edward Trelawny (governor)
Edward Trelawny (1699 – 16 January 1754) was the British governor of Jamaica from April 1738 to September 1752. He is especially known for a treaty that ended the long war that pitted white planters against the Maroons.
Biography
Edward Trelawny was born in 1699 in Trelawne, Cornwall (England). Of an ancient and well-known Cornish family, he was a younger son of Bishop Sir Jonathan Trelawny[1] and brother of Sir John Trelawny.[2]
In 1734, Trelawny left Scotland to join the British Imperial Army in his fight against the French in the war of the Polish Succession. After this, Trelawny was elected for both East Looe and West Looe.[2]
So, he returned to Parliament in this year (1734), but both elections were declared void, as he was then a commissioner of customs in Scotland and ineligible to sit in Parliament.
He was appointed Governor of Jamaica in April 1738. In March the following year, he established a peace agreement, supported by the English settlers, who officially freed the Maroons and gave them land. This treaty ended the war that pitted several populations for a long time. Trelawny left office in September 1752.
He also fought in the War of Jenkins' Ear (American phase of the War of the Austrian Succession, 1740-1748), which pitted Great Britain against Spain.[1]
In 1747, Trelawny published the pamphlet Essay concerning Slavery, a very controversial pamphlet in which he spoke of his wish that slavery be abolished. As he knew that if he abolished slavery the economy of the island would be ruined (since Jamaica depended on slavery economically), and he would lose the Government of Jamaica and the possibility of joining the British Parliament, he decided to ask, simply, for abolition of the slave trade, but the slaves of Jamaica as such would remain. It would not be done, however, until 1783.[3]
Trelawny married a widow who had a fortune of between £30,000 and £40,000 in Jamaican money. Shortly afterwards, he asked to be relieved of his post because he was ill-health. So, he left Jamaica in November 1752, obtaining the thanks of the House of Assembly for his ‘just administration’ and the ‘many important services’ he made in the island.[2]
Edward Trelawny died on 16 January 1754, in London.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Encyclopedia Britannica. Consultado el 26 de abril de 2013, a las 0:30 pm.
- 1 2 3 The history of Parliamentto: TRELAWNY, Edward (1699-1754)
- ↑ Girlhood: A Global History. Edited by Jennifer Helgren and Colleen A. Vasconcellos. Page 325.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Delaval Sir John Trelawny |
Member of Parliament for West Looe 1724–1732 With: Sir John Trelawny 1724–1727 John Willes |
Succeeded by John Willes Thomas Walker |
| Preceded by Charles Longueville Sir John Trelawny |
Member of Parliament for East Looe 1734–1735 With: Charles Longueville |
Succeeded by Charles Longueville Samuel Holden |
| Preceded by John Willes Thomas Walker |
Member of Parliament for West Looe 1734–1735 With: John Willes |
Succeeded by John Willes John Owen |
| Military offices | ||
| New regiment | Colonel of 49th Regiment of Foot | Succeeded by George Walsh |