12 Facts About Montfort Browne

Montfort Browne commanded the Prince of Wales' American Regiment, a Loyalist regiment, in the American Revolutionary War.

Montfort Browne served as lieutenant governor of West Florida from 1766 to 1769, acting as governor from 1767, and then as governor of the Bahamas from 1774 to 1780.

Montfort Browne was from an Irish family: he was one of the three sons of Edmund Browne of New Grove, County Clare and Jane Westropp, daughter of Mountfort Westropp of Attyflin, County Limerick.

Unfortunately, Eliot committed suicide a month after his arrival, and Montfort Browne reluctantly retook the reins of power.

The man was wounded, and Montfort Browne would have faced criminal charges had the man died.

Montfort Browne spent much of the next two years in England, having his finances scrutinized by the colonial office, and continuing to drum up interest in settlements on the Mississippi.

Montfort Browne continued to lobby Hillsborough's successor, the Earl of Dartmouth, for the establishment of a province on the Mississippi, but was unsuccessful.

Montfort Browne made several trips from the Bahamas to West Florida to pursue his interests in 1774 and 1775.

Montfort Browne rushed to Government House in his nightshirt to order the firing of cannon to summon the militia.

In 1777, then a colonel, Montfort Browne wrote to the English government of his discontent at serving under the authority of two brigadier generals "who have never seen a Shot fired", seeking promotion to major general.

Montfort Browne was instead promoted to the rank of brigadier general himself, remaining in that rank for the duration of his service.

Montfort Browne then faced accusations of cowardice and incompetence for his conduct of the battle and, after dismissing his council in an attempt to scotch the rumours, he was replaced by John Robert Maxwell two years later in 1780.