Frederick Haldimand

Sir Frederick Haldimand , CB, (August 11th 1718 - June 5th 1791) is an officer and a British governor.

Youth and military career

Born and baptized with Yverdon-the-Baths under the name of François-Louis-Frederic Haldimand, it showed as of its young age the taste of a military career. Like a great number of its compatriots, it left for the foreigner, engaging in a regiment of the Prussian army in 1740 and took part in the War of succession of Austria. Thereafter, it belonged to the regiment of the Swiss guards of the army of the Netherlands. In March 1756, it became in the British army in a new regiment made up Swiss and German colonists of Pennsylvania as well as Protestant officers of Europe. Arrived to North America in June, Haldimand had the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In spite of the hostility and the xenophobia of the British officers, Haldimand was pointed out its superiors. It took part in several combat of the Guerre Seven Year old.

Once the conquest of News-France completed with the autumn 1760, Haldimand, because it was French-speaking, was put in load of the repatriation of the soldiers and French civils servant. Thereafter, it is named second of Thomas Gage, governor of Montreal, then governor by interim of Three-Rivers, of May 1762 at March 1763, then of October 1763 at September 1764. In particular, it reactivated the Forges of the Saint-Maurice.

Haldimand most clearly spent its time between 1765 and 1773 in Florida, as sergeant of the department of the South. In 1773 he was recalled to New York, then with Boston like second of Pledge, then commander-in-chief of all the British forces in America. In 1775 it was replaced in its functions by British officers of stock, which caused a certain controversy, and it could remain in London and in Switzerland, where it bought a property in its birthplace.

Governor of the province of Quebec

In 1777, it is named governor of the province of Quebec, which then included most of the Ontario. It took its functions with Quebec in June 1778. It acts as this function during the American Révolution. Just like its predecessor Carleton, Haldimand found the majority of his supports in the French party vis-a-vis the British party of the merchants and English colonists. Like the precedent, its government had an authoritative tendency. It made stop several people suspected of sedition or of makes out, in particular Fleury Mesplet, Valentine Jautard and Pierre Of Calvet. Haldimand feared, in particular, that the sympathy of these personalities to the American revolution the growth to act in favor of an American conquest of Canada.

Haldimand reinforced defenses of its immense province, in particular on the Richelieu and in the area of the Big lakes. It sent in November 1778 a forwarding ordered by major Christopher Carleton to attack the state of New York and the Vermont. It then had to face the attacks of the troops of the American major-general John Sullivan on the allied Iroquoises nations with the British in 1779. He brûlement retorted by another forwarding called the of the valleys (burning off the valleys) with the autumn 1780 which destroyed thousand farms and a half-million bushels of grain in the valleys of the north of the state of New York.

In addition, Haldimand carried out of 1779 to 1783 of the negotiations with the state then independent of the Vermont in order to lead it to remain British. It was in vain.

In 1782, the new Secretary with the colonies Lord Shelburne informs Haldimand of its intention to replace it by Sir Guy Carleton, the former governor. Initially tried to resign immediately, Haldimand agreed to remain in station until the possible arrival of its successor.

At that time, the British negotiated with the Americans to put an end to the Guerre of independence. However, the terms of the Traité of Paris completely neglected the Amerindians who had supported Great Britain, granting neither territory to them nor protection. Haldimand, which had done everything to maintain good relationships with the autochtones, in particular with the chief Mohawk Joseph Brant, was thus placed in a delicate situation. It tried, and succeeds partly, to convince the minister Lord North to grant territories to Mohawks and the other nations in the current Ontario.

At the same time, it helped the establishment of the Loyalistes of Empire-Plain the in what became the Ontario, and made sure that they have enough vivres and of material to settle suitably.

End of a career

In November 1784 Haldimand went to England on leave. The businesses of the colony were left sout the direction of the lieutenant-governor Henry Hamilton. During its stay in London he learned his replacement by Guy Carleton, become Lord Dorchester. Since it was foreign, it could not claim at an official station in Great Britain, which would have been normal because of its states of service. It was however enough at ease financially, and spent its last years between London and its birthplace of Yverdon, where it died in 1791.

The County of Haldimand in Ontario and the beach of Haldimand close to Gaspé are named in its honor.

See too

List of the governors of Canada before the Confederation

Bonds external

Note of the biographical dictionary of Canada, primary source of the article.
Index of the 232 series of the Haldimand collection (summarized French and English of more than 20.000 letters and documents