Governor of Nova Scotia
He was offered the position of Governor of Nova Scotia and took up his position as the American Revolutionary War was coming to an end and United Empire Loyalists were fleeing north to escape persecution.
Parr arrived in Halifax with his family on 5 October 1782. His predecessor, Francis Legge had been an absentee governor for six years since being recalled to England and the colony had been under the stewardship of a succession of military lieutenant-governors. The last of these was Sir Andrew Hamond, who had expected to be named governor himself. Angry at Parr's appointment, he resigned shortly after the new governor arrived and returned to England. Edmund Fanning, a recently arrived Loyalist, was named Parr's new lieutenant-governor.
In 1786, when the colonial administration of British North America was reorganized, Parr had hoped to be named to the new position of Governor-General of The Canadas and Governor-in-Chief of British North America but was disappointed when the position went to Guy Carleton, who was elevated to the peerage as Lord Dorchester. The position of Governor of Nova Scotia was thereby abolished and Parr was reappointed as lieutenant governor of the province with his superior being Lord Dorchester.
Parr's administration oversaw the settlement of Black Nova Scotians who were African-American Loyalists fleeing the United States. Parr was accused of "discriminatory practices and long delays" in the matter. He attempted to establish a whaling industry in Dartmouth, and was embroiled in the "judges' affair" in which lawyers accused him of appointing incompetent or biased jurists to the bench.
Parr was under pressure to provide land and supplies for the new Loyalist settlers while not bankrupting the treasury.
The British government was inundated with complaints about the difficulties the Loyalists were facing and Parr's allegedly unsympathetic attitude towards them. The stress of the position may have taken a toll on his health, he died in office at the age of 66. He funeral was with full military honours, presided over by the 20th Foot. Parr was interred in Halifax's St. Paul's Church.
The town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia is named in his honour.
Read more about this topic: John Parr (governor)
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