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95-578: The flotilla utilized 25 vessels over the course of the war, acting in various roles such as prison ships, dispatch vessels, and combat cruisers. Its most infamous engagement was the 1779 Penobscot Expedition , in which not only all of its vessels were destroyed, but also those of privateers hired to assist in the expedition. It was later activated for the War of 1812 and the Spanish–American War . As under 10 U.S. Code §7851 naval militias form part of

190-457: A vice-regal manner, overseeing the governance and functioning of the colony. Originally they were supposed to reside in London , as was the case with other colonial company governors, although this protocol was broken when John Winthrop was appointed governor. The governor served as the executive of the colony, originally elected annually, they were joined by a Council of Assistants. This council

285-716: A "lone walk" down the Grand Staircase, through the House of Flags, into Doric Hall, out the central doors, and down the steps of the Massachusetts State House . The governor then crosses the street into Boston Common , thereby symbolically rejoining the commonwealth as a private citizen. Benjamin Butler started the tradition in 1884. Some walks have been modified with some past governors having their wives, friends, or staff accompany them. A 19-gun salute

380-525: A 14-gun brig with a crew of 70 men under the command of Lieutenant George (or James) Dawson, captured Independence , Captain Simeon Sampson, after a hard fight during which Dawson out sailed Sampson. As Independence had a larger crew and outgunned Hope she should have prevailed, but superior sailing, tactics, and a better crew delivered the victory to Hope . Hope escorted Independence to Fort Cumberland , where 14 of her guns were transferred to

475-633: A demand for prison capacity for the captured crews, and the competition between the state navy and the privateers resulted in increased costs to the state to man its ships. While the state's ships were most often patrolling in nearby waters, they ranged as far as the European coast, where prizes were sometimes taken (although those were also often recovered by the British). Its ships sometimes worked in concert with privateers, Continental Navy vessels, and French vessels. On 25 November 1776, HMS  Hope ,

570-688: A deserter from one of their ships, that the moment you enter the harbour they will destroy them." Saltonstall's ineptitude at Penobscot would lead to his being dismissed from the Navy as being "ever after incompetent to hold a government office or state post" the following October by the "Committee for Enquiring into the Failure of the Penobscot Expedition" of the Massachusetts General Court which determined that failure of

665-555: A determined resistance but received no reinforcement from the fort and were forced to retire, leaving the Americans in possession of the heights. Eight British troops were captured. At this point, Lovell ordered the attackers to halt and entrench where they were. Instead of assaulting the fort, Lovell had decided to build a battery within "a hundred rods " of the British lines and bombard them into surrender. The American casualties in

760-570: A fleet of ten warships out of New York. The next day, Saltonstall launched a naval attack against the British fort, but Collier's British relief fleet arrived and attacked the American ships. The privateer Hampden and one other vessel were captured by frigates HMS  Blonde and HMS  Virginia . Over the next two days, the American fleet fled upstream on the Penobscot River pursued by Collier. On August 13, an American officer

855-484: A fort, together with such ordnance and stores as may be proper for its defense, and a sufficient supply of provisions." However, Nutting's ship was captured by an American privateer and he was forced to dump his dispatches, bringing an end to the idea of a new colony in 1778. Nutting reached New York in January 1779, but General Clinton had received copies of the orders from other messengers. Clinton had already assigned

950-414: A law authorizing the issuance of letters of marque , as well as the creation of admiralty courts for judging naval disputes and the disposition of captured prize ships and cargo. On February 7, 1776, it enacted a law authorizing the construction of ten sloops, to carry fourteen to sixteen guns each, and approved £10,000 for their construction. The first ships constructed were the sloop Tyrannicide and

1045-478: A lieutenant and died on May 20, 1800, between that year's election and the inauguration of Governor-elect Caleb Strong . The Governor's Council served as the executive for ten days; the council's chair, Thomas Dawes was at no point named governor or acting governor. Article LV of the Constitution, enacted in 1918, created a new line of succession: The governor has a 10-person cabinet, each of whom oversees

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1140-559: A new colony or province to be called New Ireland as a precursor to New Brunswick . Sir Francis Bernard supported the idea of a new colony, as it would make "a resort for the persecuted loyalists of New England". John Nutting was a Loyalist who had piloted Sir George Collier 's expedition against Machias, and Knox induced him to write to Germain in January 1778 to promote the idea of a British military presence in Maine; he later dispatched him to London to do so in person. Nutting described

1235-591: A peninsula that was called Majabigwaduce ( Castine, Maine ) between the mouth of the Bagaduce River and a finger of the bay leading to the Penobscot River . The troops numbered approximately 700, consisting of 50 men of the Royal Artillery and Engineers, 450 of the 74th Regiment of (Highland) Foot , and 200 of the 82nd (Duke of Hamilton's) Regiment . They began to build a fortification on

1330-619: A period of three weeks in July and August. It resulted in the United States' worst naval defeat until Pearl Harbor 162 years later in 1941. On June 17, British Army forces landed under the command of General Francis McLean and began to establish a series of fortifications around Fort George on the Majabigwaduce Peninsula in the upper Penobscot Bay , with the goals of establishing a military presence on that part of

1425-484: A portion of the government under direct administration (as opposed to independent executive agencies). See Government of Massachusetts for a complete listing. The front doors of the State House are only opened when a governor leaves office, a head of state or the president of the United States comes to visit the State House, or for the return of flags from Massachusetts regiments at the end of wars. The tradition of

1520-563: A single unit in 1686, but collapsed in 1689. In 1692 the Province of Massachusetts Bay was established, merging Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, which then included the territory of present-day Maine . Colonial governors of Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay Colony were elected annually by a limited subset of the male population (known as freemen ), while Dominion officials and those of the 1692 province were appointed by

1615-469: A supreme executive magistrate, who shall be styled, The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and whose title shall be – His Excellency. The governor of Massachusetts is the chief executive of the commonwealth, and is supported by a number of subordinate officers. He, like most other state officers, senators, and representatives, was originally elected annually. In 1918 this was changed to

1710-507: A tree before hitting him. On August 4, Surgeon John Calef recorded in his journal that several men were wounded in exchanges of fire. On August 5, one man was killed and another captured, and on August 7, 100 Americans engaged 80 British with one killed and one wounded on the American side and two wounded among the British. During this time, the British had been able to send word of their condition, and request reinforcements, and on August 3 Captain (later Vice Admiral) Sir George Collier led

1805-433: A two-year term, and since 1966 the office of governor has carried a four-year term. The governor of Massachusetts does not receive a mansion or other official residence and resides in their own private residence. However, the governor does receive a housing allowance/stipend for $ 65,000. The title "His Excellency" is a holdover from the royally appointed governors of the Province of Massachusetts Bay . The first governor to use

1900-423: Is Maura Healey , a Democrat who won the 2022 gubernatorial election . Any person seeking to become governor of Massachusetts must meet the following requirements: The governor is an elected position. The term of office is four years, with no term limit . Elections for governor are held on a four-year basis concurrently with elections for the offices of lieutenant governor , attorney general , secretary of

1995-509: Is offered during the walk, and frequently the steps are lined by the outgoing governor's friends and supporters. In January 1991, outgoing lieutenant governor Evelyn Murphy , the first woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts, walked down the stairs before Governor Michael Dukakis . In a break from tradition, the January 2007 inauguration of Governor Deval Patrick took place the day after outgoing governor Mitt Romney took

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2090-458: The Tyrannicide , Hunter , and Sky Rocket , Brigadier General Peleg Wadsworth led an assault force of 400 (200 marines and 200 militia) ashore before dawn at Dyce's Head on the western tip of the peninsula with orders to capture Fort George. They landed on the narrow beach and advanced up the steep bluff leading to the fort. The British pickets, who included Lieutenant John Moore , put up

2185-488: The Massachusetts State Navy and private vessels under the command of Commodore Dudley Saltonstall . The Massachusetts authorities mobilized more than 1,000 militia, acquired six small field cannons, and placed Brigadier General Solomon Lovell in command of the land forces. The expedition departed from Boston harbor on July 19 and arrived off Penobscot on the afternoon of July 25. On July 25, nine of

2280-550: The New England colonies following the somewhat successful raid on Machias in 1777 and General John Burgoyne 's failed Saratoga campaign , but most of their effort was directed at another campaign against the southern colonies. Secretary of State for the Colonies Lord George Germain and his Under-Secretary William Knox were responsible for the war effort, and they wanted to establish a base on

2375-499: The Penobscot and St. Croix rivers. Post to be taken on Penobscot River". Germain ordered Clinton to "send such a detachment of troops at Nova Scotia, or of the provincials under your immediate command, as you shall judge proper and sufficient to defend themselves against any attempt the rebels in those parts may be able to make during the winter to take post on Penobscot River, taking with them all necessary implements for erecting

2470-499: The Province of Massachusetts Bay , began discussing the need for naval defenses against raids and punitive actions by the British Royal Navy against coastal communities in the province. A committee set up for the purpose on June 7 submitted a report on June 12 recommending the outfitting of at least six vessels, mounting up to fourteen guns, that would be managed by the province's Committee of Safety . Further discussion

2565-587: The Province of Massachusetts Bay , the colony then encompassed the territory of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony , and areas of what is now the state of Maine . The governor however would not be chosen by the electorate, instead the position would remain a royal appointment. In order to ease tensions with royal authorities and the colonists the General Court was reestablished and given significant powers. This created acrimony between

2660-517: The Province of New York , Province of West Jersey , and the Province of East Jersey . During this period (1686–1689) Massachusetts had no governor of its own. Instead there existed a royally appointed governor who resided in Boston and served at the King's pleasure. Though there existed a council which served as a quasi-legislature, however the logistics of calling the council to meet were so arduous that

2755-584: The legislative branch . The governor has far-reaching political obligations, including ceremonial and political duties. The governor also signs bills into law and has veto power . The governor is a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council , a popularly elected council with eight members who provide advice and consent on certain legal matters and appointments. Beginning with the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629,

2850-471: The American failure on poor coordination between land and sea forces and on Commodore Saltonstall's failure to engage the British naval forces. On September 7, a Warrant for Court Martial was issued by the Navy Board, Eastern Department, against Saltonstall. Upon trial he was declared to be primarily responsible for the debacle, found guilty, and dismissed from military service. Paul Revere , who commanded

2945-465: The Americans. Apart from the 100 men killed and wounded during the assault of July 28, the known American casualties throughout the siege came to 12 killed, 16 wounded and one captured, in addition to "several wounded" on August 4. The History of Penobscot says that "our whole loss of men was probably not less than 150". The chaotic retreat however, brought the American loss up to 474 killed, wounded, captured or missing. A committee of inquiry blamed

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3040-692: The British crown. In 1774 General Thomas Gage became the last royally appointed governor of Massachusetts. He was recalled to England after the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775, by which time the Massachusetts Provincial Congress exercised de facto control of Massachusetts territory outside British-occupied Boston . Between 1775 and the establishment of the Massachusetts State Constitution in 1780

3135-792: The British returned fire. The left column comprising Captain Thomas Carnes and a detachment of marines, and the right column comprising sailors from the fleet, kept going and stormed the battery. As dawn broke, the Fort's guns opened up on the captured battery and a detachment of redcoats charged out and recaptured the Half-Moon, routing the Americans and taking 18 prisoners with them. Their own casualties were four men missing (who were killed), and 12 wounded. The siege continued with minor skirmishing on August 2 with militiaman Wheeler Riggs of Falmouth being killed by an enemy cannon shot that bounced off

3230-418: The British. The operation was a fiasco. The Continental Navy 's Commodore Dudley Saltonstall , who commanded the fleet, disagreed with Solomon Lovell , the militia commander, over the overall command of the expedition. When a British fleet arrived, Saltonstall's fleet disintegrated. Ships surrendered, grounded and burned, or were abandoned after fleeing up the Penobscot River . The expedition has been called

3325-744: The Butler Bible, the "Gavel", and a two-volume set of the Massachusetts General Statutes with a personal note from the departing governor to their successor added to the back of the text. The governor-elect is then escorted by the sergeant-at-arms to the House Chamber and sworn in by the President of the Senate before a joint session of the House and Senate. Upon completion of their term, the departing governor takes

3420-504: The Castine peninsula as having a harbor that "could hold the entire British Navy" and was so easily defensible that "1,000 men and two ships" could protect it against any Continental force. He also proposed that the strategic location of such a post would help to carry the war to New England and would offer protection for Nova Scotia. Germain drafted orders for Lieutenant General Henry Clinton on September 2, to establish "a province between

3515-410: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the chief executive officer of the government of Massachusetts . The governor is the head of the state cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's military forces . Massachusetts has a republican system of government that is akin to a presidential system . The governor acts as the head of government while having a distinct role from that of

3610-759: The Commonwealth was responsible for outfitting the state's ships, and the Board of War ceased to exist. The state continued to authorize new ships for the navy. In the spring of 1780 the Mars was purchased, and the Defence was purchased in 1781. During the following winter and spring, Tartar and Winthrop , the last ship commissioned into the navy, were constructed for the state. The state issued nearly 1,000 letters of marque authorizing privateering activities. The Massachusetts prize courts were busiest in 1779, when more than 180 prizes were adjudicated. This activity resulted in

3705-762: The Dominion was essentially governed by the Crown through the royal governor. The reason for the creation of such a post was there existed tremendous hostility between the Kingdom of England and the colonists of Massachusetts Bay. In an effort to bring the colonies under tighter control the Crown dismantled the old assembly system and created the Viceroy system based on the Spanish model in New Spain . This model of government

3800-473: The June Battle of Machias , in which a British sloop-of-war was seized, and the capture in July of two more British ships. The legislature responded by officially adopting Machias Liberty and Diligence , appointing Jeremiah O'Brien their commander, with authorization to hire up to thirty seamen. These two ships served the state until October 1776. On November 1, the Massachusetts legislature enacted

3895-408: The Massachusetts courts have found that the full authority of the office of the governor devolves to the lieutenant governor upon vacancy in the office of governor, and that there is no circumstance short of death, resignation, or impeachment that would relieve the acting governor from the full gubernatorial responsibilities. The first use of the succession provision occurred in 1785, five years after

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3990-544: The Penobscot Expedition. The San Francisco Board of Education mistakenly believed the expedition was to steal land from the Penobscot people . Bernard Cornwell 's 2010 historical novel The Fort gives an account of the expedition. It draws attention to the presence there of a junior British officer named John Moore , later a famous general. 44°23′28″N 68°48′22″W  /  44.391°N 68.806°W  / 44.391; -68.806  ( Fort George ) Governor of Massachusetts The governor of

4085-526: The Penobscots as allies if a fort were successfully constructed at the mouth of the river. Massachusetts was also motivated by the fear of losing their claim over the territory in any post-war settlement. To spearhead the expedition, Massachusetts petitioned Congress for the use of three Continental Navy warships: the 12-gun sloop Providence , 14-gun brig Diligent , and 32-gun frigate Warren . The rest of more than 40 vessels were made up of ships of

4180-785: The United States organized militia and therefore are considered as such, any action to reactivate one of the nation's historic naval militia forces falls either on the Governor of Massachusetts or by legislative action of the chambers of the Massachusetts General Court . Following the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress , which effectively controlled

4275-797: The arrival of peace. Full ownership of present-day Maine (principally the northeastern borders with New Brunswick ) remained disputed until the Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842. The "District of Maine" was a part of Massachusetts until 1820 when it was admitted into the Union as the 23rd state as part of the Missouri Compromise . In 1972 the Maine Maritime Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology searched for and found

4370-408: The artillery in the expedition, was accused of disobedience and cowardice. This resulted in his dismissal from the militia, even though he was later cleared of the charges. Peleg Wadsworth, who mitigated the damage by organizing a retreat, was not charged in the court martial. Historian George Buker suggests that Saltonstall may have been unfairly blamed for the defeat. Buker argues that Saltonstall

4465-551: The assault had been severe: "one hundred out of four hundred men on the shore and bank", with the Continental Marines suffering more heavily than the militia. Commodore Saltonstall was so appalled by the losses incurred by his marines that he refused to land any more and even threatened to recall those already on shore. In addition his flagship, the Continental frigate Warren , suffered considerable damage during

4560-522: The brigantines Rising Empire and Independence , which were ready to sail in June 1776. These were followed by the sloops Republic , Freedom , and Massachusetts in September. While they were being built, additional legislation was enacted, establishing pay scales and rules for prize distribution, and in October a Board of War was created to oversee naval activities (military as well as economic) of

4655-409: The ceremonial door originated when departing governor Benjamin Butler kicked open the front door and walked out by himself in 1884. Incoming governors usually choose at least one past governor's portrait to hang in their office. Immediately before being sworn into office, the governor-elect receives four symbols from the departing governor: the ceremonial pewter "Key" for the governor's office door,

4750-611: The coast and establishing the colony of New Ireland. In response, the Province of Massachusetts raised an expedition to drive them out, with some support from the Continental Congress . The Americans landed troops in late July and attempted to besiege Fort George in actions that were seriously hampered by disagreements over control of the expedition between land forces commander Brigadier General Solomon Lovell and expedition commander Commodore Dudley Saltonstall , who

4845-683: The coast of the District of Maine that could be used to protect Nova Scotia 's shipping and communities from American privateers and raiders. The British also hoped to keep open the timber supply of the Maine coast for masts and spars for the Royal Navy. The coast down to the Penobscot was also next to the Bay of Fundy, which was easily approached from the large British naval base at Halifax . Loyalist refugees in Castine had also proposed establishing

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4940-525: The commonwealth , state treasurer , and state auditor . The role of governor has existed in Massachusetts since the Royal Charter of 1628. The original role was one of a president of the board of a joint-stock company , namely the Massachusetts Bay Company . The governor would be elected by freemen , who were shareholders of the company. These shareholders were mostly colonists themselves who fit certain religious requirements. The governor acted in

5035-425: The commonwealth's armed forces. According to the Massachusetts State Constitution : Whenever the chair of the governor shall be vacant, by reason of his death, or absence from the commonwealth, or otherwise, the lieutenant governor, for the time being, shall, during such vacancy, perform all the duties incumbent upon the governor, and shall have and exercise all the powers and authorities, which by this constitution

5130-601: The constitution's adoption, when Governor John Hancock resigned the post, leaving Lieutenant Governor Thomas Cushing as acting governor. Most recently, Jane Swift became acting governor upon the resignation of Paul Cellucci . When the constitution was first adopted, the Governor's Council was charged with acting as governor in the event that both the governorship and lieutenant governorship were vacant. This occurred in 1799 when Governor Increase Sumner died in office on June 7, 1799, leaving Lieutenant Governor Moses Gill as acting governor. Acting Governor Gill never received

5225-588: The donation of the Endicott Estate in Dedham from the heirs of Henry Bradford Endicott . He intended to renovate the 19th-century mansion into a splendid governor's residence. After Volpe resigned to become United States Secretary of Transportation in the Nixon administration , the plan was aborted by his successor in consideration of budgetary constraints and because the location was considered too far from

5320-419: The engagement with hits to the warship's mainmast, forestay and gammoning. Although possessing significant naval superiority over the British, over the next two weeks the excessively cautious Saltonstall dawdled despite repeated requests by General Lovell that he attack Mowatt's position at the entrance to the harbor. Instead he largely maneuvered the American fleet around the mouth of the Penobscot River beyond

5415-605: The expedition to General Francis McLean who was based in Halifax, and he sent Nutting there with Germain's detailed instructions. McLean's expedition set sail from Halifax on May 30, and arrived in the Penobscot Bay on June 12. The next day, McLean and Captain Andrew Barkley, the commander of the naval convoy, identified a suitable site at which they could establish a post. On June 16, his forces began landing on

5510-586: The expedition was primarily the result of the "want of proper Spirit and Energy on the part of the Commodore", that he "discouraged any Enterprizes or offensive Measures on the part of our Fleet", and that the destruction of the fleet was occasioned "principally by the Commodore's not exerting himself at all at the time of the Retreat in opposing the Enemies' foremost Ships in pursuit". On July 29, one American

5605-458: The fort's defenses. On 5 May 1781 HMS  Roebuck and HMS  Medea captured Protector . The British Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Hussar , and then sold her in 1783. The Danish East India Company purchased her and she continued to sail at least through 1785 as Hussar . Still, most of the Massachusetts navy's engagements were minor, involving only a small number of ships, and little or no combat. The most notable exception

5700-635: The governor and other Royal Officers. From 1765 on the unraveling of the Province into a full political crisis only increased the tensions between the governor and the people of Massachusetts Bay. Following the passage of the Stamp Act Governor Thomas Hutchinson had his home broken into and ransacked. The early stages of the American Revolution saw political turmoil in Massachusetts Bay. With

5795-447: The governor is vested with, when personally present. The Constitution does not use the term "acting governor", but the practice in Massachusetts has been that the lieutenant governor retains the position and title as "lieutenant governor" and becomes acting governor, not governor. The lieutenant governor, when acting as governor, is referred to as "the lieutenant-governor, acting governor" in official documents. Despite this terminology,

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5890-400: The governor's office on the third floor of the State House. Since 1780, 65 people have been elected governor, six to non-consecutive terms ( John Hancock , Caleb Strong , Marcus Morton , John Davis , John Volpe , and Michael Dukakis ), and seven lieutenant governors have acted as governor without subsequently being elected governor. Thomas Talbot served a stint as acting governor, but

5985-403: The governors and the assembly of the General Court. The governor could veto any decision made by the assembly and had control over the militia , however the General Court had authority of the treasury and provincial finances. This meant that in the event the governor did not agree with or consent with the rulings and laws of the General Court then the assembly would threaten to withhold any pay for

6080-463: The initial convoy. Some of the convoy ships had already left, but the orders were countermanded before armed sloops North and Nautilus were able to leave. When news reached the American authorities at Boston , they hurriedly made plans to drive the British from the area. The Penobscot River was the gateway to lands controlled by the Penobscot Indians who generally favored the British, and Congress feared that they would lose any chance of enlisting

6175-408: The larger vessels in the American flotilla exchanged fire with the Royal Navy ships from 15:30 to 19:00. While this was going on, seven American boats approached the shore for a landing, but turned back when British fire killed a soldier in one of the boats. On July 26, Lovell sent a force of Continental Marines to capture the British battery on Nautilus Island (also known as Banks Island), while

6270-444: The lone walk down the front steps. Despite several proposals for establishing an official residence for the governor of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not have a governor's mansion. In 1955, Governor Foster Furcolo turned down a proposal to establish the Shirley–Eustis House in Roxbury , built by royal Governor William Shirley , as the official residence. At one time, Governor John A. Volpe accepted

6365-479: The militia were to land at Bagaduce. The marines achieved their objective, but the militia turned back when British cannon overturned the leading boat, killing Major Daniel Littlefield and two of his men. Meanwhile, 750 men landed under Lovell's command and began construction of siege works under constant fire. On July 27, the American artillery bombarded the British fleet for three hours, wounding four men aboard HMS Albany . On July 28, under heavy covering fire from

6460-468: The most recent Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held in 2022 . Following each gubernatorial election, the elected governor is inaugurated on the Thursday after the first Wednesday in January following the election. There are no term limits restricting how long a governor may serve. The longest-serving Massachusetts governor is Michael Dukakis , who served 12 years; Dukakis was in office from 1975 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1991. The current governor

6555-566: The mouth of the Penobscot River in Castine, accompanied by concrete work added later by the Americans in the 19th century. Archaeological evidence of the expedition, including cannonballs and cannon, was located during an archaeological project in 2000–2001. Since 2004 a comprehensive exhibit on the Penobscot Expedition has been provided by the Castine Historical Society, located at its base on School Street, Castine. In 2021, San Francisco Unified School District announced that it would strip Paul Revere's name from Paul Revere K–8 for his role in

6650-414: The northeast of the Piscataway [Piscataqua] River" from the province of Massachusetts Bay in order to establish "so much of it as lies between the Sawkno [Saco] River and the St. Croix, which is the southeast [ sic ] boundary of Nova Scotia into a new province, which from its situation between the New England province and Nova Scotia, may with great propriety be called New Ireland". Pursuant to

6745-430: The passage of the Intolerable Acts the then Royal Governor Thomas Gage dissolved the General Court and began to govern the province by decree. In 1774 the Massachusetts Provincial Congress was formed as an alternative revolutionary government to the royal government in Boston. With Massachusetts Bay declaring its independence in May 1776 the role of governor was vacant for four years. The executive role during this time

6840-411: The peninsula which jutted into the bay and commanded the principal passage into the inner harbor. Fort George was established in the center of the small peninsula, with two batteries outside the fort to provide cover for Albany , which was the only ship expected to stay in the area. A third battery was constructed on an island south of the bay near the mouth of the Bagaduce River , in which Albany

6935-572: The range of the British guns with only occasional ineffective attempts to engage the British. As long as the British warships continued to hold the harbor they were able to pin down the American forces on the ground with concentrated fire and prevent them from taking Fort George. Realizing that time was running out, on August 11 General Lovell again wrote to Saltonstall pleading for him to attack saying: "I mean not to determine on your mode of attack; but it appears to me so very practicable, that any farther delay must be infamous; and I have it this moment by

7030-417: The role of the governor has changed throughout its history in terms of powers and selection. The modern form of the position was created in the 1780 Constitution of Massachusetts , which called for the position of a "supreme executive magistrate". Governors of Massachusetts are elected every four years during state elections that are held on the first Tuesday of November after November 1. As of November 2022,

7125-580: The seat of power, the State House in Boston. Prior to their respective demolitions in 1922 and 1863, the Province House and the Hancock Manor were also proposed as official residences. Since the governor has no official residence, the expression "corner office", rather than "governor's mansion", is commonly used in the press as a metonym for the office of governor. This refers instead to

7220-529: The state navy. Protector , a 28-gun frigate and a crew complement of 200, was launched in the fall of 1779. Unfortunately, due to the disaster of the Penobscot Expedition , it was then the only ship in the state navy. Administration of the navy was changed with the adoption in 1780 of a new state constitution . The governor was responsible for issuing commissions and orders, and the Agent of

7315-467: The state was governed by the provincial congress and an executive council. The constitution of Massachusetts created the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, to be elected annually. Terms were lengthened to two years in 1918, to last until their successor was inaugurated, which would be at least the first Wednesday in the January after their election. This was changed to the Thursday following

7410-408: The state. Over the course of the war, several additional ships were either purchased or constructed by the state. In 1777, the brigantine Hazard was built, and in 1778 a plan to construct two larger ships was entertained and eventually abandoned due to the cost. The brigantine Active , a prize taken by Hazard , was purchased in 1779. In April 1778, construction was authorized on the largest ship in

7505-441: The terms of the 1783 Peace of Paris all British forces then evacuated Fort George (followed by some 600 Loyalists who removed from the area to St. Andrews on Passamaquoddy Bay) and abandoned their attempts to establish New Ireland. During the War of 1812 , however, British forces again occupied Fort George (still calling the area New Ireland) from September 1814 to April 1815 and used it as a naval base before withdrawing again with

7600-419: The title was Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont , in 1699; since he was an Earl , it was thought proper to call him "Your Excellency." The title was retained until 1742, when an order from King George II forbade its further use. However, the framers of the state constitution revived it because they found it fitting to dignify the governor with this title. The governor also serves as commander-in-chief of

7695-777: The worst United States naval defeat prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II . Inquiries into the matter faulted Saltonstall for his actions; he was dismissed from the navy. The navy continued in operations until June 4, 1783, when the Winthrop , the last ship owned by the state, was sold. The list of names is from Paullin unless otherwise cited; other fields are from other sources. The list of names, ship type, and years of service are from Paullin unless otherwise cited; other fields are from other sources. Penobscot Expedition The Penobscot Expedition

7790-651: The wreck of Defence , a privateer that was part of the American fleet. Evidence of scuttled ships was also found under the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge in Bangor and under the Bangor town dock, and several artifacts were recovered. Cannonballs were also reported to have been recovered during the construction of the concrete casements for the I-395 bridge in 1986. The earthworks of Fort George stand at

7885-416: Was a 100-man artillery detachment under the command of Lt. Colonel Paul Revere . The expedition's goal was to reclaim control of mid-coast Maine from the British who had captured it a month earlier and renamed it New Ireland . It was the largest American naval expedition of the war. The fighting took place on land and at sea around the mouth of the Penobscot and Bagaduce rivers at Castine, Maine , over

7980-662: Was a 44-ship American naval armada during the Revolutionary War assembled by the Provincial Congress of the Province of Massachusetts Bay . The flotilla of 19 warships and 25 support vessels sailed from Boston on July 19, 1779, for the upper Penobscot Bay in the District of Maine carrying an expeditionary force of more than 1,000 American colonial marines (not to be confused with the Continental Marines ) and militiamen . Also included

8075-539: Was a group of magistrates who performed judicial functions, acted as an upper house of the General Court, and provided advice and consent to the governor. The early governors of Massachusetts Bay were staunchly Puritan colonists who wished to form a state that coincided with religious law. With the founding of the Dominion of New England by James II of England , the New England colonies were combined with

8170-628: Was apparently delayed by the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, and was not taken up again until August. In the interim, the Provincial Congress was replaced by the Massachusetts Great and General Court as the province's legislative body, with a council acting as the executive. It received a petition in August from the town of Machias in the District of Maine (now the state of Maine ) for protection and relief following

8265-537: Was elected governor several years later. Prior to 1918 constitutional reforms, both the governor's office and that of lieutenant governor were vacant on one occasion, when the state was governed by the Governor's Council . The colonial history of Massachusetts begins with the founding first of the Plymouth Colony in 1620, and then the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628. The Dominion of New England combined these and other New England colonies into

8360-812: Was filled by the Governor's Council, the Committee of Safety, and the president of the Congress when in session. With the adoption of the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780 the role of an elected civilian governor was restored. John Hancock was elected as the first governor of the independent commonwealth on October 25, 1780. Part the Second, Chapter II, Section I, Article I of the Massachusetts Constitution reads, There shall be

8455-674: Was greatly disliked by the colonists all throughout British North America but especially in New England where colonists at one time did have some semblance of democratic and local control. With the Glorious Revolution and the Boston Revolt the Dominion was abolished in 1689. With the creation of the Massachusetts Charter in 1691, the role of civilian governor was restored in Massachusetts Bay. Now

8550-577: Was harbored. Construction of the works occupied the troops for the next month, until rumors came that an American expedition was being raised in Boston to oppose them, following which efforts were redoubled to prepare works suitable for defense against the Americans. Captain Henry Mowat of the Albany was familiar with Massachusetts politics, and he took the rumors quite seriously and convinced General McLean to leave additional ships that had been part of

8645-564: Was killed. July 30, both sides cannonaded each other all day, and on July 31 two American sailors belonging to the Active were wounded by a shell. Lovell ordered a night assault on August 1 against the Half-Moon Battery next to Fort George, whose guns posed a danger to American shipping, and the Americans opened fire at 02:00. Colonel Samuel McCobb's center column, comprising his own Lincoln County Regiment, broke and fled as soon as

8740-473: Was later dismissed from the Navy for ineptitude. For almost three weeks, General McLean held off the assault until a British relief fleet arrived from New York on August 13 under the command of Sir George Collier , driving the American fleet to destruction up the Penobscot River. The survivors of the expedition made an overland journey back to more populated parts of Massachusetts with minimal food and arms. British war planners looked for ways to gain control over

8835-499: Was the Penobscot Expedition , organized by the state in response to a British expedition that established a fortified base on the eastern shore of Penobscot Bay . The naval component of the state's response included three ships of the state navy, one from the New Hampshire State Navy , three Continental Navy vessels, and numerous private vessels, including transports for the 1,000 militia that were sent to dislodge

8930-604: Was unfairly represented by Lovell and others, and that Saltonstall was a scapegoat for the campaign's failure despite his tactically correct decisions given the geographic and military conditions in Penobscot Bay. A year later the British Cabinet formally approved the New Ireland project on August 10, 1780, and King George III gave his assent the following day to the proposal to separate "the country lying to

9025-531: Was wounded by enemy fire. On August 14 and 16 all of the vessels were scuttled and burned by their own crews while the rest were destroyed at Bangor . Several transports were either captured or later salvaged by the British. The surviving crews then fled overland to Boston with almost no food or ammunition. Over the course of the siege, Colonel David Stewart claims the British garrison suffered 25 killed and 34 wounded. Stewart gives no figures for captured or missing, but 26 prisoners are known to have been taken by

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