Remembering "An Imprudent Man"
By the view Staff Article published January 29, 2003
Neil Stout, professor emeritus of history, will illuminate a key player in Revolutionary-era politics, Sir John Temple, in a seminar on Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in John Dewey Lounge, Old Mill. Stout's talk is titled "An Imprudent Man" and is sponsored by the Center for Research on Vermont.
Temple played an important role in American and British politics for nearly 40 years. The son of a powerful family, he used his connections to secure the posts of surveyor general of customs for the northern district of America and lieutenant governor of New Hampshire, and he later served on the controversial American Board of Customs Commissioners. But at the same time he was an implacable enemy of the royal governor of Massachusetts, Francis Bernard. In 1771 he became surveyor general of customs for England, but lost the post in 1774 after fighting a famous duel when accused of espionage for Benjamin Franklin.
Neil Stout taught at UVM for 36 years. His books include The Royal Navy in America, 1769–1775 and The Perfect Crisis. Information: 656-4389