The Governor's Mansion in Nassau, the official residence of the Governor of New Providence Island.
The Governor of New Providence Island is the title granted to the official appointed to administrate the colony of the Bahamas. Their residence is the Governor's Mansion in Nassau.
History[]
Background []
Originally, the governor was appointed by the Lords Proprietor of the Province of Carolina, which the Bahamas were nominally part of.
In the 1690s, pirate Captain Henry Avery sailed to Nassau and bribed the local governor to look past his crimes and allow his crew to set up camp on the beach.
In 1705, the governor was Robert Thompson, who was notorious for taking bribes from the pirates in exchange for catering to their desires, while having his pamphleteer friends in London print pamphlets about the pirate menace, gaining him support in Whitehall.
Governor Thompson demanded more bribe money from Edward Teach, a pirate captain. Teach gathered men and told Thompson to leave the island. Thompson refused, and a dozen armed men broke into his home and dragged his wife and son out into the street, where Israel Hands cut their throats. Thompson was allowed to live to spread the tale.
Lord Thomas Hamilton is tasked by his father, Lord Alfred Hamilton (one of the Lords Proprietor) with solving the pirate problem of Nassau. He and his naval liaison, Lieutenant James McGraw work on a plan to reform Nassau. One of the problems they listed as needed addressing was the bribery of the governor.
In their plan to reform Nassau and return it to the fold of the British Empire, Lieutenant James McGraw recommends to Lady Miranda Hamilton that they make her husband, Thomas, the new governor.
Under the pirates, Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, was the most powerful and feared of the pirate captains, and was the de facto governor of the Pirate Republic until his retirement.
Season One[]
After bribing the Lords Proprietor for years, Richard Guthrie, a wealthy merchant who fenced the pirates’ cargo using his family company’s ships, they agreed to make him the new governor.
Captain Flint reveals to Eleanor Guthrie that he wants to use the money from the Urca de Lima to make Nassau and the Pirate Republic a self sustaining nation. He would then use their strength to deter England from prosecuting a war against them, and would then negotiate with them to offer a pardon and allow the pirates to choose their own governor.
After Captain Hume of the Royal Navy attempts to arrest Richard, Richard is rescued by the pirate Captain Flint. After spending time convalescing at theBarlow Estate, Richard reveals the news of his arrest to the pirates of Nassau in order to destroy the fence operation, and speed up the process of the British Empire reclaiming Nassau.
After this, Richard gains sanctuary at the Underhill Estate. He tells Underhill that he had been bribing the Lords Proprietor in London for years in exchange for preferential treatment when the British Empire reasserts their rule. He offers to see Underhill made governor if he grants the former smuggler sanctuary on his well defended estate. Pastor Lambrick later informs Miranda Barlow of this.
Season Two[]
After learning that the Urca de Lima gold has been reclaimed by the Spanish, Flint shifts his plans to returning Abigail Ashe to her father, Lord Peter Ashe, governor of Carolina. Flint hopes that Ashe, an old friend of his, would then help them bring a proposal to Parliament in which the pirates are pardoned, Nassau returns to the British Empire, and the pirates get to choose their own governor.
Season Three[]
After the Lords Proprietor cede the Bahamas to the Crown, Woodes Rogers is appointed the first Royal Governor of New Providence Island. He is authorized to offer the pirates a Royal Pardon. After some initial resistance offered by the Pirate Fleet, he is able to successfully pacify Nassau after their departure. The pirates surrender en masse, and Rogers moves into the old Governor’s Mansion.
Season Four[]
After a lengthy renewed conflict over New Providence Island, Marion Guthrie purchases Rogers’ debt and forces him to default as part of a plan engineered by Max and Jack Rackham. Rogers is then imprisoned and disgraced. With Guthrie and Max’s backing, Augustus Featherstone is appointed the new Royal Governor.
Governors of New Providence Island[]
Proprietary Governors[]
- Robert Thompson (deposed)
- Richard Guthrie (arrested before taking office)
Pirate Republic []
- Edward Teach (unofficial role)
Royal Governors[]
- Woodes Rogers (deposed)
- Augustus Featherstone