A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Bernard, Sir Francis
Admitted 22 October, 1733.
Only son of the Rev. Francis Bernard, Rector of Brightwell, Berkshire. He was educated at Westminster and Oxford, and was an excellent classical scholar. He was called to the Bar 29 April, 1737, and was for some time Steward of Lincoln and Recorder of Boston, but in 1758 he was sent as Governor of New Jersey, and thence transferred to the Governorship of Massachusetts Bay in 1760. Here, whilst ably carrying out the policy of the Government, he made himself obnoxious to the colonists, and it was on his representation that troops were dispatched to Boston, an act which greatly intensified their disaffection. In 1769 he was created a baronet, but was recalled from the Colony, to which he never returned. He was Reader at the Inn in 1779, and died at Aylesbury on 16 June of the same year. He took a great interest in Harvard University, and raised funds on its behalf when it suffered from fire.
He published several series of Letters from America. Also an edition of The Latin Odes of Anthony Alsop (1752).