LII.
WILLIAM GOOCH.
LII. Lieutenant-Governor.
LII. October 13, 1727, to June, 1740.
King George I. of England having died, 11th June, 1727,
William Gooch assumed the reins of government in Virginia,
in the first year of the reign of George II. Governor Gooch
was born at Yarmouth, England, 21st October, 1681. He was
educated for the army, served under Marlborough, and was an
officer of superior military ability. His course as Chief Magistrate
in Virginia has always met with unqualified commendation,
and so wise was the policy he adopted, that he is said to
have been the only colonial Governor in America against whom,
at home and abroad, there was never a shadow of complaint.
Virginia enjoyed prosperity and repose under his administration.
In 1728 the boundary line between Virginia and
North Carolina was satisfactorily settled, an act of great
importance to the inhabitants of these Colonies who lived on
their respective borders. In 1740 troops were transported
from the Colonies for the first time, to assist the soldiers of
the Mother-country. Major-General Alexander Spotswood
had been appointed to the command of the four colonial battalions
(four hundred men of which, being Virginia's quota),
raised to join in an attack on Carthagena, but dying unexpectedly,
on the eve of embarkation, Governor Gooch assumed
command of the expedition. During his absence, the government
of Virginia devolved upon Commissary James Blair,
President of the Council.
