Sir David KIRKE

1597 - 1654  (57 years)

• Name	David KIRKE
  Prefix	Sir
  Relationship	with Brian Mark BUSSIERE
  Born	1597	Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France
  Gender	Male
  Died	1654	London, England
  Siblings	4 siblings
  1. Sir John KIRKE,   b. 1600, Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  2. Sir Lewis KIRKE,   b. 1599, Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France ,   d. 1683
  3. Thomas KIRKE,   b. Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  4. James KIRKE,   b. Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I2855	Bussiere Robinson
  Last Modified	10 Apr 2004

  
  

  Father	Jarvis KIRKE,   b. Scotland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F1168	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	CLAYPOLE,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	28 Sep 2009
  Family ID	F902	Group Sheet

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1597 - Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France Died - 1654 - London, England  = Link to Google Maps   = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Sir David, adventurer, born in Dieppe, France, in 1596; died in Ferryland, Newfoundland, about 1655. He was the eldest son of Gervase Kirke, a Scottish merchant, and entered business as a wine-merchant in Bordeaux and Cognac. During the Huguenot troubles he retired to England, and, accompanied by his two brothers, commanded an expedition of three vessels under royal letters of marque in 1627 to break up the French settle-meat in Canada and Nova Scotia. The expedition was sent by his father, who had become interested in Sir William Alexander's American projects. After reaching Tadousac, Kirke sent parties to burn the houses and kill the cattle at Cape Tourmente, seized the French forts, and ordered Champlain to surrender Quebec. The latter concealed his weakness by a defiant answer, and the assailants withdrew. Kirke engaged the French squadron under De Roquemont, near Gaspe, 18 July, 1628, and defeated him, capturing all the arms, ammunition, and stores that were intended for Quebec. The garrison of that place was now reduced to extreme suffering, and when Kirke reappeared before the town with his squadron in July, 1629, it capitulated.--Kirke's brother, Louis, was appointed governor, and was the first military commandant of Quebec in the employ of the English government. He displayed much courtesy and humanity to the suffering people during the short time he held command. England relinquished these conquests in 1632" but Kirke was knighted by Charles I. in 1633, and with others obtained a grant of Newfoundland. He was its governor for nearly twenty years until dispossessed by Cromwell. In 1653 he returned, having recovered part of his property by bribing Claypole.