Josiah Hardy (1715–1790) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

merchant and

colonial administrator Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonisation, colonisers may impose their relig ...

who served as colonial

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

between 1761 and 1763. He was succeeded in the post by

William Franklin William Franklin (22 February 1730 – 17 November 1813) was an American-born attorney, soldier, politician, and colonial administrator. He was the acknowledged illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin. William Franklin was the last colonial G ...

, the son of

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...

. Hardy was later appointed as consul at

Cádiz Cádiz (, , ) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the Province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, ...

Early life and education

Hardy came from a naval family. His father was Vice-Admiral

Sir Charles Hardy Sir Charles Hardy (c. 1714 – 18 May 1780) was a Royal Navy officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1764 and 1780. He served as colonial governor of New York from 1755 to 1757. Early career Born at Portsmouth, the ...

, and one of his brothers,

Charles Hardy Sir Charles Hardy (c. 1714 – 18 May 1780) was a Royal Navy officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1764 and 1780. He served as colonial governor of New York from 1755 to 1757. Early career Born at Portsmouth, the ...

, became an admiral.

Career

He became a merchant, emphasizing trade between Great Britain and the North American colonies. In 1761, he was appointed as

, serving until 1763. He was succeeded by

, the son of

, who were both born in the colony of Pennsylvania.

Marriage and family

Hardy married Harriet, daughter of Sir Thomas D'Aeth, and they had five daughters: Harriet, Elizabeth Sophia, Priscilla, Louisa and Charlotte. Their fourth daughter, Louisa (1757–1853), married the naval officer Lieutenant John Cooke on 15 June 1790 at St Leonard's, Shoreditch. They had a single daughter together, born on 26 January 1797 at

Stoke Damerel Stoke, also referred to by its earlier name of Stoke Damerel, is a parish, that was once part of the historical Devonport, England; this was prior to 1914. In 1914, Devonport and Plymouth amalgamated with Stonehouse: the new town took the nam ...

. Cooke was killed while commanding at the

Battle of Trafalgar The Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805) was a naval engagement between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies during the War of the Third Coalition (August–December 1805) of the Napoleonic Wars (180 ...

on 21 October 1805.

Notes

References

* Skemp, Sheila L. ''William Franklin: Son of a Patriot, Servant of a King''. Oxford University Press, 1990. * British merchants Colonial governors of New Jersey 1715 births 1790 deaths {{UK-business-bio-stub