Edward Cornwallis

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Edward Cornwallis

Edward Cornwallis, (c 1713 – 14 January 1776), was a British military officer, known as “the Founder of Halifax”.

He was born in London, the sixth son of Charles, fourth Baron Cornwallis, and Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of the Earl of Arran. The Cornwallis family possessed large estates at Culford in Suffolk and the Channel Islands. Edward had a twin brother (Frederick, later Archbishop of Canterbury), and they were both made royal pages at the age of 12. They were both enrolled at Eton school at 14, and at age 18, Edward entered into military service.

His service in the military let Edward participate in many great battles and to receive recognitions for his efforts. The British government appointed Cornwallis as governor of Nova Scotia and he arrived on 21 June 1749 at Chibouctou Harbour. He was under instructions to found a colony of Protestants, which would act as a buffer between New England and Acadia. Shortly thereafter, the city of Halifax was founded. Edward's period as governor ended in 1752 and he returned to England to resume his career as a military officer and politician.

Edward Cornwallis is infamous for ordering a head bounty of 10 pounds sterling on all Mi'kmaq including women and children in the region shortly after his arrival in New World. This was ostensibly in response to the failure of local Mi'kmaq to recognize the King of England as the owner of their land. This genocidal campaign alarmed the Lords of Trade, who cautioned Cornwallis that his drastic actions might spark a greater reaction against Europeans. Hostilities including the massacre of entire bands would continue for more than decade until the Mi'kmaq sued for peace in the 1761 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

In 1762 Cornwallis was served as Governor of Gibraltar from June 14, 1761 to January 1776 and died 14 years later, at the age of 63.

A statue of Edward Cornwallis stands at the center of Cornwallis Park in downtown Halifax. Cornwallis Junior High School in Halifax is named for him.

Edward's twin brother, Frederick Cornwallis, was Archbishop of Canterbury. His grandfather , Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis, was First Lord of the Admiralty. His nephew, Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, became famous as a British general in the American Revolutionary War, and was later Governor-General of India.