Article

Montagu Wilmot

Published Online January 13, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Montagu Wilmot, British army officer, governor of Nova Scotia (d at Halifax 23 May 1766). An officer from 1730, Wilmot served almost exclusively in Nova Scotia 1746-66 and was at the siege of LOUISBOURG in 1758 as a regimental commander.

Wilmot, Montagu

Montagu Wilmot, British army officer, governor of Nova Scotia (d at Halifax 23 May 1766). An officer from 1730, Wilmot served almost exclusively in Nova Scotia 1746-66 and was at the siege of LOUISBOURG in 1758 as a regimental commander. Appointed lieutenant-governor of NS Mar 1763, he was advanced to governor May 1764, both appointments won by patronage. Unfortunately, he was plagued by illness and lacked sufficient willpower to govern effectively. During his term the province suffered from a postwar depression, caused in part by sharply reduced British government spending and, in addition, 2.5 to 3.5 million acres (1.0-1.4 million ha) were granted away, often to speculators who did little to improve their acquisitions. Generally regarded as weak, Wilmot died in office.