Francis Gore

Francis Gore, (Blackheath, London 1769 – 3 November 1852) was an English officer and British colonial administrator.

For other people named Francis Gore, see Francis Gore (disambiguation).

George Theodore Berthon's Francis Gore

Gore was commissioned into the 44th Foot in 1787, but transferred to the 54th Foot in 1794 and the 17th Light Dragoons in 1795. He retired with the rank of major and became Governor of Bermuda from 1805 to 1806, and then Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada from 1806 to 1811. Gore's administration built roads, reorganised the militia and founded schools.

He was absent on leave during the War of 1812 as military authorities ran the province. His stand-in during this time was Isaac Brock, who "sought an active role in the impending war as keenly as Gore sought to escape it".[1] Gore resumed his role as lieutenant-governor from 1815 to 1817. During his second term, Gore prorogued the Legislative Assembly after it challenged his ban on issuing land grants to American refugees and made other criticisms of his administration. Robert MacIntosh, in his book Earliest Toronto, describes Gore as "a man who was clearly the most incompetent and disliked Lieutenant Governor in the history of Upper Canada".[1]

Gore Vale, a north-south street on the eastern boundary of Trinity Bellwoods Park on the west side of downtown Toronto, is named after him.

Gore left Canada after his posting in 1817 and died in Brighton, England on 3 November 1852.

Most historians believe that the township municipality of Gore, Quebec was named after him.[2]

References

1. MacIntosh, Robert. Earliest Toronto. Renfrew, Ontario, Canada: General Store Publishing House. p. 39. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008.
2. Reference number 25930 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (in French)

External links

• "Francis Gore". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.

Government offices
Preceded by Henry Tucker	Governor of Bermuda 1805–1806	Succeeded by Henry Tucker
Preceded by Alexander Grant	Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada 1806–1811	Succeeded by Sir Isaac Brock
Preceded by Gordon Drummond	Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada 1815–1817	Succeeded by Samuel Smith