Francis Pickmore


Francis Pickmore ; naval officer and colonial governor.

Naval career

Pickmore spent his early naval career in Newfoundland as a lieutenant in 1777 and in August 1812 he reached the rank of vice-admiral. He was appointed governor of Newfoundland in 1816. Pickmore's term was marked by strife and severe economic depression that had hit the island following the Napoleonic wars and influx of Irish immigrants. Pickmore is noted as the first governor of Newfoundland to stay the winter. He died in St. John's and Captain John Bowker, a senior officer under Pickmore's command and commander of Pickmore's flagship Sir Francis Drake, acted as governor until Governor Sir Charles Hamilton arrived.