Career
Burrington gained his office as governor through family influence. He was known principally for physically threatening other North Carolina officials, including most notably Chief Justice Christopher Gale. The Lords Proprietors of Carolina replaced him as governor because so many colonists complained about his behaviour.
However, Burrington"s successor, Sir Richard Everard, proved even more unpopular with the people of North Carolina and they eventually requested that Burrington be re-appointed.
When the Crown bought the colony back from the Lords Proprietors in 1729, Burrington was appointed as the first royal governor of North Carolina. He was instrumental in exploring and settling the Cape Fear area of the colony.
In 1731, Governor George Burrington was sent back to North Carolina to deal with the Family. He voided Moore"s patents on the east side of the Cape Fear River and filled them with his own "creatures" as the Family called them to begin the town of Wilmington.
The Family"s Brunswick Town soon failed because of the competition.
Burrington"s 1731-1734 term was almost as controversial as the prior one, and he was again removed. But not before starting the town that would become the successful port of Wilmington, to help royal officials oppose the Family"s illegal Brunswick settlement. His successor, Gabriel Johnston gave it its current name, in honor of Spencer Compton, Lord Wilmington.
Burrington later returned to England and was killed in an apparent robbery attempt on 22 February 1759 in Saint James"s Park, London.
Most references to George Burrington in state history since then have been based on the falsehoods created by Ashe and Williamson. A new history is desperately needed for the governor.
