Colonial governor, born in Roxbury (now part of Boston), Massachusetts, USA. The son of Thomas Dudley, he served as temporary governor of Massachusetts (1686), and became notorious for upholding the policies of King James II. He served as Massachusetts governor (170215) and came into severe conflict with the General Court. A true imperial thinker, he sought to serve the British-speaking world, not just his own colony.
Joseph Dudley (September 23, 1647 - April 2, 1720), colonial governor of Massachusetts from 1702 to 1715, the son of Thomas Dudley, was born and died in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
He graduated from Harvard College in 1665, became a member of the general court, and in 1682 was sent by Massachusetts to London to prevent the threatened revocation of her charter by Charles II.
With the advent of the new governor, Sir Edmund Andros, Dudley became a judge of the superior court and censor of the press.
Returning to England in 1693, he was lieutenant-governor of the Isle of Wight and a member of parliament, and in 1702, after a long intrigue, secured from Queen Anne a commission as governor of Massachusetts, serving until 1715.
He was active in raising volunteers for the so-called Queen Anne's War, and in 1707 sent a fruitless expedition against Port Royal.
His character may be best summed up in the words of one of his successors, Thomas Hutchinson, that he had as many virtues as can consist with so great a thirst for honour and power.
External Links
official Massachusetts Governor biography
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