John Murray, fourth Earl of Dunmore

Time Period
1763 to 1825
Topics
American Revolution
Politics & Government
Image
VHE_LordDunmore.1948.76_e.jpg

Lord Dunmore (VMHC 1948.76)

John Murray, Fourth Earl of Dunmore, was Virginia's last royal governor. He was born in 1730 in Taymouth, Scotland. His father, William, Third Earl of Dunmore, fought against King George II as part of the Jacobite Army in 1746. William was imprisoned before being pardoned in 1750. John joined the British Army the same year. After years of military service John, as the Fourth Earl of Dunmore, was named governor of New York in 1770 before being transferred to Virginia and taking office as governor in 1771. Wealthy Virginians came to support him after he claimed land west of the Appalachian Mountains for the colony. In what became known as Dunmore’s War, troops under his command attacked Indigenous People to gain control. This included the Battle of Point Pleasant in October 1774 against the Shawnee.

In April 1775 he seized the colony’s ammunition stores, and seven months later declared martial law and issued a proclamation that promised freedom to enslaved people belonging to Patriots if they would come to British lines and fight for the king. Dunmore’s proclamation sparked a flood of enslaved people to escape in pursuit of freedom, (as many as 2,000 reached the governor), and raised widespread fear of a slave rebellion (learn more here). He then recruited the Queen’s Own Loyal Virginia Regiment, composed of white Loyalists, and an Ethiopian Regiment of slaves. Dunmore took the offensive at Great Bridge but was so soundly defeated there that he burned nearby Norfolk and fled. After the events in Virginia in 1775 and 1776, Dunmore left for Great Britain in 1778 was established as governor of the Bahamas. By 1796 King George III no longer favored him and Dunmore returned to England. He died in his home in 1809.