Francis Bond Head

Date of Birth: January 1, 1793

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: July 20, 1875

Biography

Sir Francis Bond Head, 1st Baronet, was a notable British soldier, author, and statesman born on January 1, 1793, in Higham, Kent, England. His career began in the military, where he served as an officer in the Royal Engineers. After retiring from active military service, he turned to literature and wrote several books, including travel narratives that found a receptive audience. Head’s most prominent role came when he was appointed as the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada (now Ontario) in 1835. His tenure was marked by significant political unrest, culminating in the Rebellion of 1837. Head’s handling of the rebellion was controversial; he initially underestimated the discontent among the settlers and later took a hardline stance against the rebels. After his tenure in Canada, which ended in 1838, Head returned to England, where he continued to write and engage in public discourse. He was created a baronet in 1836 for his services. Head passed away on July 20, 1875, in Croydon, Surrey, England.

5 Interesting Facts about Francis Bond Head

1. Sir Francis Bond Head was knighted and created a baronet in 1836, a rare honor for a colonial administrator at the time.

2. Head’s tenure as Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada was marked by the Upper Canada Rebellion, which was part of the larger Rebellions of 1837–1838 in Canada.

3. Before his appointment in Canada, Head worked for the Buenos Aires Mining Company, which led him to write his popular book “Rough Notes Taken during some Rapid Journeys across the Pampas and among the Andes.”

4. Head was a vehement opponent of the responsible government in Canada, believing that the colonies should remain firmly under British control.

5. He was known for his vivid travel writings, which provided detailed and colorful descriptions of the places he visited, contributing to his literary fame.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Francis Bond Head

1. “Men are not to be judged by their looks, habits, and appearances; but by the character of their lives and conversations, and by their works.”

2. “I have always considered a good reputation as the most valuable inheritance.”

3. “The great object of life is sensation—to feel that we exist, even though in pain.”

4. “Experience is the best of schoolmasters, only the school fees are heavy.”

5. “The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Sir Francis Bond Head’s net worth was modest by modern standards, primarily due to his military and public service salaries and his earnings from his writings. Exact figures aren’t available, but his baronetcy and literary success suggest he was comfortably well-off for his time.

Children

Sir Francis Bond Head had several children with his wife, Julia Valenza Somerville. Among them, his son, Sir Edmund Walker Head, succeeded him as the 2nd Baronet and went on to become the Governor General of the Province of Canada.