John Tinker (1700–1758) was an early Colonial official who served the Royal African Company on the Gold Coast, was an Agent for the South Sea Company in Portobello, and was Royal Governor of the Bahama Islands from 1741 to 1758.

Early life John Tinker was born and baptised on 30 July 1700 to parents Jeremiah and HannahWestminster Archives: St Martin-in-the-Fields, 30 July 1700 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster. His grandfather was Captain John Tinker,TNA: PROB 11/356 Will of Admiral Tinker: written March 1676, probate April 1678 Master Attendant of the King's Yard at DeptfordLetters of Samuel Pepys 1633-1703 who commanded the Coverdine during the reign of Charles II.Calendar of State Papers, domestic series of the reign of Charles II

Career In 1722 John served as governor of the Cape Coast Castle (in what was then called Guinea), a trading post of the Royal African Company which traded principally in gold and slaves.African Historical Studies 1, 2 (1968) English Chief Factors on the Gold Coast 1632-1753 by R Porter In 1724 he was joined on the Gold Coast by his brother JeremiahDeath: "At Cape Coast Castle in Africa, Jeremiah Tinker Esq., Governor of the said Fort: The Historical Register containing an Impartial Relation of all transactions, foreign and domestick with a chronological diary of all the remarkable occurrences." Volume 23, p15. 1738 who was based close by at WhydahThe Political State of Great Britain, Volume 34, p613. 1727 and also by Nathaniel Rice (later to be a relative). He remained there until 1726, when both Tinker and Rice returned to England.Documents Illustrative of the History of the Slave Trade to America: The Eighteenth Century. Elizabeth Donnan

Panama By 1730, Tinker had been appointed Chief of the Panama Factory at Portobello for the South Sea Company, where he was responsible for organising the import of slaves under the Asiento de Negros agreement reached at the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.The Secret History of the Late Directors of the South Seas Company by David Templeman, pp24-27 show him corresponding with the Directors in 1730 and 1734 He was in post throughout the 1730s, although it seems unlikely his family joined him in Panama as his sons were at school in England and his wife Isabella was residing in London.Westminster Rate Books show Tinker paid rent on London property throughout the 1730s - likely to be for his wife Isabella

In 1738The Historical Register: containing an impartial relation of all transactions foreign and domestic: for the year 1738. Volume 23 Treasury Books and Papers - August 1739, Volume 4 pp259-266 it was announced that he was to be the next Governor of the Bahamas so it is likely he had left Portobello before Admiral Vernon captured it, but he was still involved in its affairs, as in 1739, when the Board of Trade was considering ways to prevent the Spanish from exporting from their silver mines in Peru and Mexico, both Tinker and his father-in-law Martin Bladen'Martin Bladen: A Biography' by Karen Proudler and 'Early Yorkshire Bladens' by Karen Proudler suggested locating a military base at Darien on the Isthmus of Panama. Vernon rejected this idea as the location was too isolated and would need to be garrisoned.The Navy in the War of 1739-48 by Sir Herbert William Richmond

Bahamas Tinker did not arrive in post until April 1741Memoirs of Peter Henry Bruce, a military officer in the services of Prussia, Russia and Great Britain containing an account of his travels in Germany, Russia, Tartary, Turkey, The West Indies etc as also several very interesting private anecdotes of the Czar, Peter I of Russia. Printed Dublin. 1783 and his first priority was strengthening the island's military defences by building Fort Montagu at the entrance to Nassau Harbour, which was accomplished within the first year, and also a small battery nearby which he called Bladen's Battery (named for his son). When funds for fortifications ran low and Bahamians were taxed to raise money, he had difficulties with his Assembly. They were unhappy with the new taxation and stopped his salary and so he dissolved the Assembly.

Despite these difficulties and war with Spain and France, privateers in Nassau seized enemy ships and the whole economy shared in prize money from the vessels. In fact, so many Bahamians were involved in privateering that traditional industries like agriculture were neglected.Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People. Volume 2: From Aboriginal Times to the End of Slavery. By Michael Craton, Gail Saunders Tinker had found it difficult to eradicate privateering or entice new settlers as the cost of living was high and the currency was in a poor state. Most of the difficulties he encountered he tended to blame on the people he governed, rather than his own ability to govern.

Freemasons Tinker had joined the Freemasons in London in 1730 and, in 1755, he made the long journey from New Providence to Philadelphia to attend the greatest procession of Masons ever seen in America at the inauguration of a new Lodge. Tinker, along with Benjamin Franklin and son William Franklin were at the head of a procession of 160 Masons in full regalia through the streets led by a sword bearer and which was accompanied by peals of bells and the firing of cannons from a nearby ship.The Life of Benjamin Franklin: soldier, scientist and politician 1748-57. Volume 3 by Joseph A Leo Lemay. 2009

Personal life On 6 February 1727/28 he married Isabella Bladen, the daughter of Martin Bladen a senior commissioner at the Board of TradeRG7 / Piece 828 / Folio 3 Fleet Notebooks. Clandestine Marriages: Isabella Bladin and John Tinker, 6 February 1727/8. Officiating Ministers: Floud, Ryder, Crawford, Evans and he received a generous marriage settlement.TNA: C12/74/99 Tinker v Bladen 1773 They had two sons, Captain John Bladen Tinker (1728–1767) and Jeremiah Tinker (1730–1795).

John Tinker later lived in the Bahamas separately from wife Isabella, who remained in London, and he had a second family in the Bahamas with Sophia Trigge (who later became the wife of Tinker's secretary John Snow).Will of John Tinker, dated 1754: http://cms.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/johntinkerswill.pdf

John Tinker died in the Bahamas on 10 July 1758.More Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies by Vere Langford Oliver

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