MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ISAAC BROCK, THE HERO OF UPPER CANADA (1769-1812)
Early Life
Major General Sir Isaac Brock can be considered to be one of Canada's first heroes. He was a brilliant commander who inspired the admiration and loyalty of his troops through his courage, integrity and intelligence. Although he died early in the War of 1812, he rallied Canada's soldiers and left them with the conviction that they could overcome the American invasion.
Isaac Brock was born on October 6, 1769, in St. Peter's Port on the Island of Guernsey in the English Channel. He was the eleventh of fourteen children born to John and Elizabeth Delisle Brock. In 1785, at the age of fifteen, he purchased a commission and entered the military as an ensign of the 8th regiment. He quickly climbed up the ranks through a combination of promotions and purchased commissions. In 1797, Brock became the senior Lieutenant Colonel in the 49th regiment. Brock was assigned to garrison duty in Quebec in 1802 and commanded in Quebec from 1804-1810, at which point he was transferred to Upper Canada. By the beginning of the War of 1812, Brock had become Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Forces in Upper Canada, and achieved the rank of Major General. Brock's responsibilities included both the civil and military administration of the province, and he was widely admired for his skillful leadership, steadiness and charisma. In the summer of 1812, Brock lived at Government House between Fort George and Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake). His aides-de-camp at Newark were Captain John Glegg of the 49th regiment, and Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell of the Upper Canada Militia.
War of 1812
The United States declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812 and prepared to invade British North America. Believing that "offence was the best defence," Brock took Fort Detroit on August 16, a victory which rallied the Canadian troops and for which he was knighted. However, Brock erred in his anticipation of the next move of the American forces. Assuming that the Americans would attack at Fort George, Brock positioned 1,500 men at the Fort, leaving only a few militia and two companies from the 49th regiment, totaling about 300 men, to defend Queenston.
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Isaac Brock
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