Lieutenant-General William Tryon was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served as governor of North Carolina from 1764 to 1771 and the governor of New York from 1771 to 1777.
24 Facts About William Tryon
2.
William Tryon served during the Seven Years' War, the Regulator Movement, and the American War of Independence.
3.
In 1751, Tryon enlisted the British Army as a lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards and was promoted to the rank of captain later that year.
4.
William Tryon pushed for the completion of abandoned construction projects of Anglican churches in Brunswick Town, Wilmington, Edenton, and New Bern.
5.
William Tryon appointed members of the clergy for these churches and encouraged the construction of new churches, especially in rural areas.
6.
William Tryon said that he was personally opposed to the Stamp Act and that he offered to pay the taxes on all stamped paper on which he was entitled to fees.
7.
William Tryon composed plans for an elaborate governor's mansion, which would function as a central location for government business; he worked with Hawks during 1764 and 1765 to draw up plans for an elaborate home.
8.
William Tryon was eventually able to convince the legislature to increase taxes to help pay for the project.
9.
William Tryon then raised taxes again to pay for the militia's campaign against the Regulators.
10.
William Tryon Palace was reconstructed in the 1950s using the original architectural plans drawn by John Hawks.
11.
William Tryon proposed to land the tea and store it at Fort George.
12.
William Tryon told London the tea could be brought ashore "only under the protection of the point of the bayonet, and muzzle of cannon, and even then I do not see how consumption could be effected".
13.
William Tryon then set up an offshore headquarters nearby on board the merchant ship Duchess of Gordon.
14.
William Tryon retained his nominal title as governor, but with little power.
15.
In early 1777, William Tryon was given the rank of major-general of the provincials.
16.
William Tryon established his headquarters at the house of a Loyalist named Joseph Dibble, at the south end of the village and near the public stores.
17.
William Tryon engaged and defeated Patriot forces under the command of General David Wooster and Benedict Arnold at the Battle of Ridgefield when attempting to return to an invasion fleet anchored in Westport.
18.
William Tryon became the commander of all British forces on Long Island.
19.
William Tryon had long advocated engaging in raids on Patriot towns, but General Henry Clinton turned down his proposals.
20.
William Tryon's raids were intended to draw Patriot forces away from the defense of the Hudson valley.
21.
Patriot newspapers condemned him for making war on "women and children", and Clinton was indignant about William Tryon disobeying his orders.
22.
William Tryon found approval of his conduct from Lord George Germain, but Clinton refused to give him any further significant commands.
23.
William Tryon directed the affairs of the 70th Regiment, who were still in America, and he gave directions in 1783 for the regiment to be brought back to England for disbandment.
24.
William Tryon had a daughter by Mary Stanton, whom he never married.