Prince Edward Island. Lieutenant-Governor's Office : Administered by a Governor from 1770 to 1787 and thereafter by a Lieutenant Governor, the Island of St. John was renamed Prince Edward Island in 1799. From 1786 until Confederation, the Governor-in-Chief of Quebec or Lower Canada held a Commission as Governor-in-Chief for the provinces in British North America. While the Royal Instructions were addressed to the Governor-in-Chief, they were carried out by the Lieutenant Governor.
The Governor or Lieutenant Governor of each colony in British North America may be seen to have maintained three levels of communication, which are reflected in the structure of the record-keeping systems in their offices. At the first level were despatches exchanged with the Colonial Office (for which see the description of despatches in the Correspondence with the Colonial Office series, elsewhere within this fonds). At the second level were despatches exchanged with fellow governors and senior officials who might be categorized as colleagues. The entry books demonstrate substantial variations in place and time as to who was considered a colleague. At both levels, the despatches were prepared for the governor's signature (though rarely in his own hand). At the third level were letters addressed to and received from subordinates (for which see the description of the Secretaries' correspondence in the Civil Secretary's correspondence received sub-series in the Office of the Governor-in-Chief of the Province of Canada, elsewhere within this fonds). Responsibility for preparing and signing correspondence at this level was delegated to the Private, Civil or Military Secretaries. Great consistency is evident in the segregation of despatches prepared in the Governor's name (first and second levels) from letters prepared at his orders but signed by his Secretaries (third level).
As a representative of the Crown in and for the colonies of British North America, each Governor or Lieutenant Governor undertook certain responsibilities for external relations and was obliged to maintain a close degree of co-operation with the British Minister at Washington. Filing practices demonstrate that the despatches were considered as communications with colleagues. The same may be said of correspondence with the Commander of the Forces.
Governors, lieutenant-governors and administrators of Prince Edward Island between 1770 and 1873 include: Walter Patterson, Governor, 19 September, 1770; went to England 2 August, 1775; returned 28 June, 1780; recalled and replaced by Edmund Fanning who arrived 4 November, 1786, but Patterson did not surrender the government until June, 1787. The Administrators during his absence in England were Philips Calbeck, 3 August, 1775-10 October, 1779 and Thomas DesBrisay, Lieutenant-Governor, 10 October, 1779-28 June, 1780. Edmund Fanning, Lieutenant-Governor, June, 1787-1 July, 1805. Fanning arrived 4 November, 1786 and published his commission on 10 April, 1787 but Patterson did not surrender control of the Government until June, 1787. Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres, Lieutenant-Governor, 1 July, 1805-4 October, 1812; William Townshend, Administrator, 5 October, 1812-24 July, 1813; Charles D. Smith, Lieutenant-Governor, 24 July, 1813-21 October, 1824; John Ready, Lieutenant-Governor, 21 October, 1824-27 September, 1831. Aretas William Young (knighted 9 July, 1834), Lieutenant-Governor, 27 September, 1831; on leave 18 May-29 September, 1834 during which time George Wright was Administrator; died 1 December, 1835. George Wright, Administrator, 1 December, 1835-30 August, 1836; Sir John Harvey, Lieutenant-Governor 30 August 1836-25 May 1837; George Wright, Administrator, 25 May-25 June 1837; Sir Charles Fitzroy, Lieutenant-Governor, 25 June 1837-2 November 1841; George Wright, Administrator, 3 November-13 November 1841; Sir Henry Vere Huntley, Lieutenant-Governor, 13 November 1841-1 November 1847; Sir Donald Campbell, Lieutenant-Governor, 9 December 1847-10 October 1850; Ambrose Lane, Administrator, 10 October 1850-9 March 1851; Sir Alexander Bannerman, Lieutenant-Governor, 10 March 1851-11 July 1854; Dominick Daly (knighted in 1857), Lieutenant-Governor, 11 July 1854-25 May 1859; Charles Young, Administrator, 26 May-7 June 1859; George Dundas, Lieutenant-Governor, 8 June 1859-6 October 1870; Sir Robert Hodgson, Administrator, 22 October 1868-6 October 1870; William Cleaver Francis Robinson, Lieutenant-Governor, 7 October 1870-30 July 1873. Prince Edward Island entered Confederation end of July. Upon his retirement Sir Robert Hodgson became Administrator and later Lieutenant-Governor. RG7 General Inventory
