John Moultrie (politician)

John Moultrie
John Moultrie
Born	18 January 1729 (1729-01-18) Charleston, South Carolina
Died	1798 (1799) (aged 69) Shropshire, England
Occupation	Governor of East Florida

John Moultrie (Charleston, South Carolina 18 January 1729 – 1798 Shropshire, England) was a deputy governor of East Florida in the years before the American Revolutionary War. He became acting governor when his predecessor, James Grant, was invalided home in 1771. Moultrie again became a deputy under his successor, Patrick Tonyn, returning to England in 1784.

Moultrie was one for five brothers who became a doctor after obtaining a medical degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1749.^[1]

Moultrie was married twice, first to Dorothy Mortin in 1753 and later to Eleanor Austin in 1762.^[1]

Moultrie moved to Florida in 1767 and became Lieutenant Governor of East Florida under Governor Grant. He was also a planter in Florida.

Following the Revolutionary War and the loss of Florida by the British, Moultrie left for England and died in 1798.^[1] He was buried at Shefnal Church in Shropshire, England. His daughter, Cecilia, married the naval officer John Bligh at St Marylebone on 17 August 1809.^[2]

His brothers were also key players on both sides the Revolutionary War:

• William Moultrie (1730–1805) was a Patriot General of the Continental Army during the Revolution
• James Moultrie (died 1765) was Chief Justice of British East Florida
• Captain Thomas Moultrie was commanding officer of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army
• Colonel Alexander Moultrie was the first Attorney General of the State of South Carolina 1776–1792

References