Why was James Murray recalled?

• A. He was recalled in 1766 due to complaints about him.
• B. He remained in office until the War of 1776.
• C. He voluntarily resigned.
• D. He died in office.

Answer: (A)

When a colony was ruled directly by the Crown, the Home Government could remove or replace its governors if they were unhappy with how the colony was being governed. James Murray’s case shows that kind accountability in action.

Murray served as the colonial administrator of Quebec after the British conquest, but by 1766 the Colonial Office had received multiple complaints about his management of the province. Faced with concerns over how affairs were run, including finances and administration for the French-speaking population, the British government decided to replace him. He was recalled in 1766 and replaced by a new governor, illustrating that imperial oversight could remove leaders who were not meeting expectations.

So, the correct answer reflects that recall in 1766 was due to the Home Government’s dissatisfaction with his administration, not because of resignation, death, or serving until a later war.