Streets of Charlottetown - Hillsborough

In naming the streets of Charlottetown, the traditions established by Samuel Holland throughout the province appear to have continued. Holland had presented his sketches and plans for the county towns to the Government of Nova Scotia and Mr. Morris arrived from Halifax in June 1768 to survey and layout streets for Charlotte Town. The plan needed reworking considerably in 1771 for surveyor Thomas Wright under the instruction of Governor Patterson. Through this a pattern had been established to honour both royal titles and the family names of a select group of senior officials in London with responsibility for the colonies.

Prominent in the group was Wills Hill. He was known as Viscount Hillsborough from 1742 to 1751 and as the Earl of Hillsborough from 1751 to 1789, and had risen as a successful British politician of the period, being the Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1768 to 1772, a period of significance leading toward the American Revolution.

Hillsborough was a member of Parliament from 1741-1756, he joined the Privy Council in 1754 and was created Baron Harwich 1756, which entitled him to a seat in the House of Lords. His highest rank was as 1st Marquess of Downshire in the Irish peerage in 1789.

His service, between 1763 and 1765, as President of the Board of Trade and Plantations had the greatest impact on PEI. It was during early 1764 that important decisions were being made about how best to develop Prince Edward Island as a colony and the entire matter had been referred by the British Government to this body for consideration and recommendations.

Hillsborough Street, Square, River, Bay and the federal riding of Hillsborough are all derived from one family name honouring the Earl of Hillsborough.