John Bazalgette

Who was John Bazalgette?

Colonel John Bazalgette was an army officer actively involved in the affairs of Nova Scotia for forty-three years. He was born in London, the second son of Jean Louis Bazalgette, a French immigrant born in the Cévennes region, and Catherine, née Metivier, also from a French family in London.

Bazalgette had previously served with the British army in other colonial posts before arriving in Nova Scotia in 1811. A Lieutenant in the 80th Foot, he was promoted Captain in the 99th Foot without purchase in 1805. By 1830 he was a Major in the 98th Foot. In 1837 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army. He was made administrator of the provincial government for Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Harvey from 30 May to 30 September 1851 and from 22 March to 5 August 1852. This period included the debate on Joseph Howe's railway policy. It appears from correspondence with the Colonial Office that he had a good sense of balance between colonial needs and his responsibility to England.

While stationed in Bermuda, he married Sarah Crawford Magdalen Van Norden and the marriage produced 15 children, 6 girls and 9 boys, of whom seven in turn went into the Army.