Jeffery Amherst

Career in Europe

It was born with Sevenoaks in the Kent. It was page Duc of Dorset. In 1731, it enlists in the army and, in 1741, becomes aide-de-camp of the general John Ligonier (1680-1770). During the War of succession of Austria, it takes part in the Bataille of Fontenoy in 1745. It is promoted with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After the signature of the treated of Aachen in 1748, it passes by again in England, and the period of peace which follows reduced its chances of advance.

Seven Year old war: end of News-France

On the other hand, when bursts the Guerre Seven Year old, its fortune changes. It is useful initially in Germany and takes part in the Bataille of Hastenbeck in July 1757. Its guard the Ligonier general having been named commander-in-chief of the British army, Amherst sees himself entrusting the temporary rank of “general major in America” with the particular mission to take the fortress of Louisbourg. He has inter alia under his orders the future general James Wolfe. It orders forwarding against the fortress and the capitulation from it on July 27th 1758 obtains.

Named commander-in-chief in North America to replace James Abercromby, it spends the next winter to New York to make plans for the countryside of the next summer. It goes up in 1759 the Lac Champlain with an army of 11000 men, and goes until Crown Point where it builds a fort. It launches some attacks on the island to Nuts on the Rivière Richelieu, where the French commander Bourlamaque took refuge. This tactic remains nevertheless without notorious effects and is abandoned after the taken of Quebec by Wolfe in September.

During the next winter, Amherst plans the attack of three armies against Montreal: Murray going up the St. Lawrence starting from Quebec, William Haviland coming from the lake Champlain and Amherst itself attacking starting from the Lake Ontario. At the beginning of September 1760, the junction of the three armies functions perfectly and leads to the capitulation of the French on September 8th. Amherst then names three military governors for the three “governments” of News-France: James Murray, confirmed in the station that it occupied already in Quebec, Ralph Burton with Three-Rivers and Thomas Gage in Montreal.

However the war is not finished, and Amherst, as commander-in-chief, organized during 1761 and 1762 of forwardings to the Dominique, in Martinique and with Cuba.

In 1762 it names his/her brother William Amherst ordering forces of reconquest of the island of Newfoundland. From New York, Jeffery Amherst supervises this military operation. The Battle of Signal Hill and the capitulation of the fort of Midsummer's Day put an end to the French adventure in North America. However as of May 1763 the rising of Pontiac obliges Amherst to take again the weapons against the Amerindians, whom he scorned.

Amherst definitively returns in Great Britain in November 1763. He was the first governor under the military occupation of the News-France, of 1760 with 1763.

Discusses

A correspondence with its subordinate, the colonel Henri Bouquet, Swiss reveals mercenary of origin, us that it suggested using the Variole (small pox) as weapon of war by contaminating covers which were distributed to members of the tribe of Delaware who besieged the fort. However the commander of Strong Pitt had already distributed contaminated covers before this correspondence does not take place. An epidemic of variola took place indeed, but it is not certain that it was caused by the covers of the fort.

Honors and end of a career

Amherst was governor of Virginia of 1759 to 1768, function which he really did not exert but which got an income to him. It was made knight of the Ordre of the Bath in 1761. It was titrated, in 1776, baron Amherst off Holmesdale, title which died out with him because it did not have a descent. In 1775, then in 1778, the king asked him to take again the command in America, where the war with the colonies threatened, but Amherst refused. Of 1778 with 1782, it was named all the same commander-in-chief of the British armed forces, after nine years of vacancy of the station. Briefly replaced in this function, in 1782 - 1783, by Henry Seymour Conway, it took again service in the same function of 1783 with 1795. It is withdrawn then with the title of marshal.

He was governor of Guernesey of 1770 to 1794. In 1788, another baronnie was conferred to him with the title of “baron Amherst off Montreal”, which échut with its nephew William Pitt Amherst (1773-1857), second baron Amherst (1797-1826) then first count Amherst (1826-1857).

Jeffrey Amherst died the August 3rd 1797, also with Sevenoaks, its residence called Montreal.

See too

List of the governors of Canada before the Confederation

External bonds

Biography of the biographical Dictionary of Canada in line
List of the governors of Virginia
On the use of variola at the height Pitt
Another article on the use of variola at the height Pitt

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