William Spry (colonial administrator)

William Spry (died 4 September 1772) was a jurist and governor of Barbados.

[1] On 25 September 1764 he arrived with his family at Halifax, Nova Scotia, having been appointed judge of the vice-admiralty court over all America,[2] which had been recently constituted by act of parliament.

In the proclamation that announces the opening of the court he is styled “The Right Worshipful William Spry, Doctor of Laws.” The other officers of the new court were: vice-admiral, the Earl of Northumberland; registrar, the Hon.

Its creation had been opposed in the colonies, and the passage of the Stamp Act the next year, with the accompanying disturbances, probably prevented its extension to other provinces.

Spry arrived at Barbados the following year, and died in office in 1772.