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Note: Since beginning this collection of names, an article has been created for Governors of Fort William. However, there are more names here than there! Work still to be done!

Governors of Fort William, Scotland
Known to the locals as an Gearasdan, the town now known as Fort William has had many names: in 1654 it was called Braintoun after its first governor; In 1690, it was named Fort William after the King; the Duke of Gordon tried to name it Gordonsburgh; Duncan Cameron of Callart later tried to change the name to Duncansburgh.
Not to be confused with Fort William, Bengal and others similarly named

I have found a reference to Richard Onslow, who died 16 March 1760, as being Governor of Fort William. I have since found the following:

  • General George Wade (1673-1748), Commander in Chief of the Land Forces in Scotland, and Governor of Fort William in the Highlands. (also of Fort Augustus and Fort George)
  • James Gabriel le Trésor, a naturalized Englishman and father of James Gabriel Montresor (1704 – 1776), became Lieutenant Governor of Fort William (where he died) 22 January 1723/4. He was a Major in the Royal Scots Fusileers. c1700.
  • Sir William Gordon, 1st Baronet of Afton (1654 - 1718)
  • Lieut-Colonel John Cameron (1724 - 1816), was Deputy Governor of Fort William (Clan Cameron have him as governor, but he is shown as deputy on his daughter's marriage certificate after his death)
  • Colonel John Hill (d ? 1697) was Governor when MacDonald of Glencoe attempted to swear allegiance to the crown on on the 31st December, 1691. His second in command, Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, carried out the subsequent massacre. Lt-Col James Hamilton, deputy governor of Fort William, was involved in planning it.
  • Captain Alexander Campbell,Deputy Governor of Fort William, August 1745. Died circa 1751.
  • Governor Campbell was in post in 1746
  • Ate the time of the Seige of Fort William (1745), the elderly governor of the fort was Alexander Campbell who was described as a "careful and good man", but there were doubts about his competence and on 15 March 1746 he was superseded by Captain Caroline Frederick Scott of Guise's 6th Regiment.
  • The Governor of the Fort, General Alexander Campbell, was a Freemason, as were the Collector of Customs, William Cowan and the Sheriff, George Douglass.
  • Archibald Campbell, the governor of Fort William.
  • 'At the end of Harvest and beginning of Winter 1751 Colonel Crawford who commanded then at Fort William', possibly following the death of Campbell.
  • James Forbes (d1804), sixteenth Baron Forbes, Deputy-Governor of Fort William in 1764
  • John Burgoyne Esq Lieut General of his majesty's armies in America, Colonel of the Queen's Regiment of Light Dragoons, governor of Fort William in North Britain c1768/1777 as a colonel
  • Sir Robert Pollock, Governor of Fort-William, and his son, Walter Pollock, who carried on business as a merchant at the Fort,(undated)
  • Lt Gen Richard Onslow replaced Lt Gen Humphry Bland, who became Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Feb 1752. Onslow was Governor 1752-1759.
  • Lieutenant-General Sir John Vaughan KB (c. 1731 – 30 June 1795), was appointed Governor of Fort William in 1779 and then in 1780 Governor of Berwick, also holding this post until his death.
  • Maj Gen Edmund Stevens appointed Governor of the garrison of Fort William, in North Britain, vice Harcourt 18 Sept 1795
  • John Leighton, esq, to be Lieut-Gov of Fort william in the room of - Campbell, Esq, deceased, Feb 1752
  • Thomas Braddyll, then (1738) Governor of Fort William - or is this Bengal?
  • Brigadier General Maitland, Governor of Fort William
  • Lieutenant-General James Murray (1734 – 1794) was in 1780, appointed Governor of Fort William. This was the year of the Gordon Riots.
  • William Kingsley, Governor 1759
  • Lieutenant-General Charles Sybourg, made governor of Fort William In April 1725
  • National Galleries of Scotland's caption of the portrait by Alexander Bannerman states: William Kingsley, c 1698 - 1769. General; governor of Fort William

The toun was erected into a barony in favour of the Governor (?Maitland)


The fort was entered by a bridge across the ditch; the guard house was immediately inside the fort. Adjoining it were the officers quarters, and in the opposite block of buildings was the general's house. The other buildings were occupied by the men. The fort was dismantled in 1864 and sold.

The National Library of Scotland holds a series of Maps and Drawings (many are coloured) of the Board of Ordnance, relating to the years around the Jacobite Rebellions of 1715 and 1745. Reference "Mss. 1645-1652". Including:

1719. "Fort William Anne 1719". Plans and Sections of Governor's House, Store House, and Gunner's House. Scale 10 Feet to an Inch.

Three Drawings of Fort William dated 1744 and signed Dug Campbell:Plan of the Governour's House at Fort William. No scale given.

A panelled room from the Governor's House is now in Fort William Musuem.

The Parade the Governor's House: Said to have served as dwelling for governor of Fort William, probably succeeding former residence within compound of Fort.

Governors of Fort William, Bengal

See list>>>>

References[edit]

(Categories deleted to reduce cross referencing)