Governor of Nova Scotia, British Army Brigadier General. He was born into a military family and was commissioned in the 11th Regiment of Foot at the age of 18 and served four years in the West Indies. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1741 and captain in 1742. In 1745 he was wounded in the Battle of Fontenoy in Austria. He was promoted to major and transferred to the 45th Foot in Nova Scotia in 1747. After transferring to the 40th Foot he built Fort Lawrence and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In 1753 he was appointed as lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia and as governor in 1756. The forces under Robert Mockton that captured the French Fort Beausejour were raised by Lawrence. This area was inhabited by descendents of 17th century French settlers and Lawrence oversaw their expulsion from Nova Scotia in an action known as the "Acadian Expulsion." Before the end of 1755 an estimated 6,000 Acadians or three quarters of their total population was rounded up and placed on ships where nearly half would die. Before the operation was over in 1763 more than 10,000 Acadians had been forcefully deported and sent as far away as the Falkland Islands. The largest group was sent to France where they were poorly treated and ostracized by French society. Some Acadians escaped deportation and eventually traveled down the Mississippi River and the Acadian name evolved into what we know today as Cajun.
Governor of Nova Scotia, British Army Brigadier General. He was born into a military family and was commissioned in the 11th Regiment of Foot at the age of 18 and served four years in the West Indies. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1741 and captain in 1742. In 1745 he was wounded in the Battle of Fontenoy in Austria. He was promoted to major and transferred to the 45th Foot in Nova Scotia in 1747. After transferring to the 40th Foot he built Fort Lawrence and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In 1753 he was appointed as lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia and as governor in 1756. The forces under Robert Mockton that captured the French Fort Beausejour were raised by Lawrence. This area was inhabited by descendents of 17th century French settlers and Lawrence oversaw their expulsion from Nova Scotia in an action known as the "Acadian Expulsion." Before the end of 1755 an estimated 6,000 Acadians or three quarters of their total population was rounded up and placed on ships where nearly half would die. Before the operation was over in 1763 more than 10,000 Acadians had been forcefully deported and sent as far away as the Falkland Islands. The largest group was sent to France where they were poorly treated and ostracized by French society. Some Acadians escaped deportation and eventually traveled down the Mississippi River and the Acadian name evolved into what we know today as Cajun.
Bio by: Tom Todd
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