Henry Ellis

Henry Ellis (August 29, 1721 – January 21, 1806) was an Anglo-Irish explorer, author and slave trader who served as the governor of the colonies of Georgia. He was awarded governorship of Nova Scotia but never went to that province as his presence was required in London.

Biography Early years Ellis was born August 29, 1721, in County Monaghan, Ireland, the son of Francis and Joan (née Maxwell) Ellis. He studied law at the Middle Temple in London. In May 1746, he went out as agent of a company for the discovery of the Northwest Passage. After extinguishing with difficulty a fire in his ship, he sailed to Greenland, where he exchanged commodities with the Inuit peoples on July 8. He then proceeded to Fort Nelson and wintered in Hayes River. He renewed his efforts in June 1747, without success, and returned to England where he arrived on October 14. He published an account of his explorations in 1748, entitled A voyage to Hudson's-Bay by the Dobbs Galley and California in the years 1746 and 1747 for discovering a North West Passage " and in 1750 published Considerations on the Great Advantages which would Arise from the Discovery of the North West Passage. After publishing these accounts, Ellis was inducted into the Royal Society. He published "Heat of the Weather in Georgia" in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society in 1758. The subtropical climate took its toll on his health and he had to be removed from governor then left Georgia on November 2, 1760, stopping in New York to request military assistance to the southern colonies. He afterward resided in Italy, principally occupied in scientific researches. Before he died he had a friendship with the Creek leader.

Death He died on January 21, 1806, aged 84, in Naples, Italy.

Legacy Fort Ellis in Nova Scotia and Ellis Square in Savannah are named after him.