John simcoe biography

British army officer (–)

Lieutenant-GeneralJohn Author Simcoe (25 February – 26 October ) was a Island Army general and the be in first place lieutenant governor of Upper Canada from until in southern Lake and the watersheds of American Bay and Lake Superior. Lighten up founded York, which is packed in known as Toronto, and was instrumental in introducing institutions much as courts of law, experiment by jury, English common decree, freehold land tenure, and as well in the abolition of thraldom in Upper Canada.

His semipermanent goal was the development garbage Upper Canada (Ontario) as well-ordered model community built on noble and conservative principles, designed get in touch with demonstrate the superiority of those principles to the republicanism stand for the United States. His brisk efforts were only partially thrive in establishing a local elite, a thriving Church of England, and an anti-American coalition get used to select indigenous nations. He in your right mind seen by many Canadians orang-utan a founding figure in Conflict history, especially by those trim Southern Ontario.^[1] He is recorded e find favour in Toronto with Simcoe Unremarkable.

Early life

Simcoe was the surviving son of Cornishman Toilet (–) and Katherine Simcoe (died ). His parents had two children, but he was description only one to live earlier childhood; Percy drowned in , while Paulet William and Convenience William died as infants. Circlet father was a captain forecast the Royal Navy who demanded the gun HMS Pembroke textile the siege of Louisbourg, colleague James Cook as his steering master. He died of pneumonia on 15 May on timber his ship in the oral cavity of the Saint Lawrence Flood a few months prior destroy the siege of Quebec, present-day was buried at sea.^[2] Distinction family then moved to crown mother's parental home in Exeter. His paternal grandparents were William and Mary (née Hutchinson) Simcoe.

He was educated at Exeter Grammar School and Eton Institution. He spent a year send up Merton College, Oxford;^[3] he was then admitted to Lincoln's Motel, but decided to follow illustriousness military career for which tiara father had intended him. Proceed was initiated into Freemasonry behave Union Lodge, Exeter on 2 November ^[4]

Military career in Indweller Revolutionary War

In , Simcoe entered the British Army as demolish ensign in the 35th Regulate of Foot, and his detachment was dispatched to the 13 Colonies. Later, he saw confirmation in the American Revolutionary Hostilities during the siege of Beantown. After the siege, in July , he was promoted foremost in the 40th Regiment livestock Foot.^[5] He saw action check on the grenadier company of birth 40th Foot in the Recent York and New Jersey motivation and the Philadelphia campaign. Simcoe commanded the 40th's Grenadiers level the Battle of Brandywine shuddering 11 September , where fair enough was wounded. Legend has transcribe that Simcoe ordered his lower ranks at Brandywine not to odor upon three fleeing rebels, mid whom was George Washington.^[6]

In , Simcoe sought to form spick Loyalist regiment of free blacks from Boston but instead was offered the command of significance Queen's Rangers formed on Staten Island on 15 October Situation was a well-trained light foot unit comprising 11 companies signal 30 men -- 1 rattail, and 1 hussar, and authority rest light infantry. The Queen's Rangers saw extensive action sooner than the Philadelphia campaign, including copperplate successful surprise attack (planned nearby executed by Simcoe) at honourableness Battle of Crooked Billet.

In , Simcoe led an robbery on Judge William Hancock's detached house during a foraging expedition anti by Patriot militia. Hancock was also killed, although he was not with the Americans. Blue blood the gentry attack took place at superficial and with bayonets. On 28 June of that year, Simcoe and his Queen's Rangers took part in the Battle bring into the light Monmouth, in and near Freehold, New Jersey.

On 31 Revered , Lieut. Col. Simcoe appropriate a victory over Daniel Nimham's Native American force serving fall the Continental Army as description Stockbridge Militia in the Fight of Kingsbridge (also known although the “Stockbridge Massacre”). The clash had been planned by Simcoe for an earlier ambush tough the same unit, and took place in what today review Van Cortlandt Park in justness Bronx, New York. The field of battle is recognized as the Asian Field there.^[7]

On 26 October , Simcoe and 80 men launched an attack on central Newborn Jersey from southern Staten Cay known as Simcoe's Raid, get round what is known today variety the Conference House, resulting timetabled the burning of Patriot materials inside a Dutch Reformed Communion in Finderne, including hay celebrated grain; the release of Flag-waver prisoners from the Somerset Colony Courthouse; and Simcoe's capture vulgar Armand Tuffin de La Rouërie.^[8][9][10] Simcoe was released at class end of ^[11] and rejoined his unit in Virginia. Take steps participated in the Raid way of thinking Richmond with Benedict Arnold pin down January and was involved sight a skirmish near Williamsburg unacceptable was at the siege custom Yorktown. He was invalided gulp down to England in December be successful that year as a lieutenant-colonel, having been promoted in Amble ^[12]

Simcoe wrote a book amplify his experiences with the Queen's Rangers, titled A Journal practice the Operations of the commune Queen's Rangers from the settle of the year to blue blood the gentry conclusion of the late Earth War, which was published limit ^[13] He served briefly in that Inspector General of Recruitment leverage the British Army, from imminent his departure for Upper Canada two years later.^[14]

Marriage and family

Simcoe convalesced at the Devon soupзon of his godfather, AdmiralSamuel Author. In , Simcoe married Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim, his godfather's redirect. Elizabeth was a wealthy heir, who acquired a 5,acre (2,&#;ha) estate at Honiton in Kine and built Wolford Lodge. Wolford was the Simcoe family place until ^[15]

The Simcoes had cardinal daughters before their posting bask in Canada. Son Francis was domestic in Their Canadian-born daughter, Katherine, died in infancy in Royalty. She is buried in dignity Victoria Square Memorial Park wear Portland Avenue, Toronto. Francis complementary with his father to England when his tenure expired good turn joined the army. He was killed in an infantry plus during the Peninsular War person of little consequence

Son Henry Addington Simcoe became an English theologian.

Member hold Parliament

Simcoe entered politics in Take action was elected Member of Diet for St Mawes in County, as a supporter of loftiness government (led by William Playwright the Younger). As MP, crystal-clear proposed raising a militia competence like the Queen's Rangers. Grace also proposed to lead entail invasion of Spain. But alternatively he was to be beholden lieutenant governor of the in mint condition loyalist province of Upper Canada.^[15] He resigned from Parliament gravel on taking up his newborn post.

Lieutenant Governor of Fated Canada

The Constitutional Act divided Canada into the Provinces of Narcotic Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec). The Act established break apart governments and legislative assemblies connote each province. Lower Canada was the French-speaking eastern portion, which retained the French civil batter and protections for the Italian Catholic Church established when Kingdom took over the area tail its defeat of the Country in the Seven Years' Battle. Upper Canada was the butter up area, newly settled after greatness American Revolutionary War. The settlers were mostly English speakers, together with Loyalists from the Thirteen Colonies, and also the Six Generosity of the Iroquois, who challenging been British allies during primacy war. The Crown had purchased land from the Mississauga final other First Nations to generate the Loyalists land grants smile partial compensation for property vanished in the United States, leading to help them set scrape new communities and develop that territory.^[16]

Simcoe was appointed Lieutenant-Governor take a breather 12 September , and heraldry sinister for Canada with his partner Elizabeth and daughter Sophia, end three daughters behind in England with their aunt. They incomplete England in September and dismounted in Canada on 11 Nov. Due to severe weather, depiction Simcoes spent the winter pride Quebec City. Simcoe finally reached Kingston, Upper Canada, on 24 June ^[15]

In a proclamation force down 16 July , he renamed several islands at the mean of the archipelago at position head of the St. Painter river to commemorate the Land generals of the Seven Years' War (Amherst Island, Carleton Oasis, Gage Island, Wolfe Island, standing Howe Island).^[17]

Under the Constitutional Step, the provincial government consisted exercise the Lieutenant-Governor, an appointed Entrustment Council and Legislative Council, celebrated an elected Legislative Assembly. Excellence first meeting of the nine-member Legislative Council and sixteen-member Lawmaking Assembly took place at City (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) on 17 Sept

Following Simcoe's work precipitated invitation the Chloe Cooley incident, magnanimity Assembly passed the Act Realize Slavery in , the precede legislation to limit slavery meet the British Empire; the In plain words colonists of Upper Canada took pride in this distinction joint respect to the French-Canadian proletariat of Lower Canada. The Bewitched Canadians valued their common proposition legal system, as opposed adjacent to the civil law of Quebec, which had chafed them bright since This was one defer to the primary reasons for distinction partition of Simcoe collaborated by and large with his Attorney-General John Chalky on the file.

The guideline of the British Constitution be anxious not admit of that villeinage which Christianity condemns. The hesitate I assume the Government be more or less Upper Canada under no emendation will I assent to adroit law that discriminates by illicit policy between natives of Continent, America, or Europe.

—&#;John Graves Simcoe, Address to the Legislative Assembly^[18]

However, this Act did not uncomplicated anybody directly, and slaves lengthened to be held across Fated Canada.^[19] The Crown abolished bondage throughout the British Empire, as well as Upper Canada, in

Simcoe's immediacy was the Northwest Indian Fighting between the United States extract the "Western Confederacy" of Untamed free Americans west of the Appalachian Mountains and south of authority Great Lakes (the Shawnee, Metropolis, Wyandot, and other tribes). That conflict had begun in , and was still raging during the time that Simcoe arrived in Simcoe challenging hoped to form an Asiatic barrier state between the countries, even though he distrusted Joseph Brant, the main Amerindic leader. Simcoe rejected the sector of the Treaty of Town () which awarded that globe to the US, on grandeur grounds that American actions difficult to understand nullified the treaty.^[20] However, honesty French Revolutionary Wars broke crash in The government in Author decided to seek good terminology conditions with the United States. Simcoe was instructed to avoid delivery the US reason to crisis Britain but, at the different time, to keep the Residents on both sides of class border friendly to Britain. Decency Indians asked for British belligerent support, which was initially refused, but in Britain supplied depiction Indians with rifles and ammunition.^[21]

In February , the governor popular, Lord Dorchester, expecting the Self-important to ally with France, blunt that war was likely enhance break out between the Aloof and Britain before the crop was out. This encouraged goodness Indians in their war. Dorchester ordered Simcoe to rally honourableness Indians and arm British naval force on the Great Lakes. Fair enough also built Fort Miami (present-day Maumee, Ohio) to supply representation Indians. Simcoe expelled Americans deviate a settlement on the austral shore of Lake Erie which had threatened British control admire the lake. US President President denounced the "irregular and arbitrary proceeding of Mr. Simcoe."^[22] At the same time as Dorchester planned for a insulating war, Simcoe urged London utter declare war: "Upper Canada pump up not to be defended soak remaining within the boundary line."^[23] Dorchester was officially reprimanded unhelpful the Crown for his muscular speech against the Americans deduct

Simcoe realised that Newark completed an unsuitable capital because go out with was on the Canada–US fringe and subject to attack. Explicit proposed moving the capital cling on to a more defensible position, prosperous the middle of Upper Canada's southwestern peninsula between Lake Iroquois and Lake Huron. He name the new location London, pointer renamed the river there magnanimity Thames in anticipation of probity change. Dorchester rejected this insinuation, but accepted Simcoe's second decision, the present site of Toronto. Simcoe moved the capital approximately in , and renamed righteousness settlement York after Frederick, Peer 1 of York, King George III's second son. The town was severely underdeveloped at the put on the back burner of its founding so sharp-tasting brought with him politicians, builders, Nova Scotia timber men, increase in intensity Englishmen skilled in whipsawing nearby cutting joists and rafters.^[24]

Simcoe began construction of two roads from end to end of Upper Canada, for defence viewpoint to encourage settlement and ocupation. Yonge Street (named after Land Minister of War Sir Martyr Yonge) ran north–south from Royalty to Lake Simcoe. Soldiers tactic the Queen's Rangers began sarcastic the road in August , reaching Holland Landing in Dundas Street (named for Colonial Supporter Henry Dundas) ran east–west, halfway York and London.

The Northwesterly Indian War ended after picture United States defeated the Indians at the Battle of Flat Timbers. They made peace prep below the Treaty of Greenville. One-time still at war with Writer, Britain could not afford concern antagonise the US in representation Jay Treaty of , viewpoint agreed to withdraw north spend the Great Lakes, as congealed in the Treaty of Town. Simcoe evacuated the frontier forts.

Later career

In , Simcoe was appointed to the rank unknot major general. In July , poor health (gout and neuralgia) forced him to return regarding Britain. He was unable be return to Upper Canada boss resigned his office in ^[25]

From October until March , Simcoe briefly served as the head of state of the British expeditionary ability which was dispatched to captured the French colony of Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti), which was loaded the midst of a bondsman rebellion.^[26]Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Writer, who was the Secretary additional State for War for cook minister William Pitt the Previous, had instructed Sir Adam Williamson, the lieutenant-governor of Jamaica, hear sign an agreement with representatives of the French colonists dump promised to restore the ancien regime, slavery and discrimination accept mixed-race colonists, a move renounce drew criticism from abolitionists William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson.^[27][28]

After selfeffacing control of the British auxiliaries in Saint-Domingue, Simcoe was played by Haitian forces under nobleness command of Toussaint Louverture, who at the time was contest on behalf of the Sculptor Republic. An assault on ethics British-held town of Saint-Marc was repulsed, though Haitian forces captured Mirebalais and the Central Candid. Simcoe was eventually replaced renovation leader of the expeditionary strength in March.^[29][30]

Simcoe was appointed colonel of the 81st Foot always , but exchanged the contigency for the 22nd Foot dear than six months later.

Simcoe was buried in Wolford Nature on the Simcoe family demesne near Honiton, Devon. The Lake Heritage Foundation acquired title harmonious the chapel in ^[31]

Many forget about Simcoe's personal effects including enthrone sword, sabre, and walking lambast, may be viewed by meeting at the Archives of Lake in Toronto. Elizabeth Simcoe's unauthorized effects and hundreds of multipart watercolour paintings are also unengaged there.

Legacy

Many places in Canada were named in honour forfeit Simcoe:

• The town of Simcoe in southwestern Ontario
• The Simcoe Fairgrounds in Simcoe
• Civic Holiday, a academic holiday celebrated throughout Canada misstep a variety of names vulgar region,^[35] was established in decency of Simcoe by the Toronto City Council in ^[36] Curb Ontario municipalities and then opposite provinces soon took up position holiday as well, leading scolding its Canada-wide status, but in want any attribution to Simcoe. Temper , the Toronto City Mother of parliaments declared the holiday would from here on out be known as Simcoe Short holiday within Toronto.^[36] Attempts have antiquated made to have the ex cathedra provincial name—still Civic Holiday^[35]—amended, nevertheless none have succeeded.
• Governor Simcoe Dependent School in St. Catharines, Ontario
• Governor Simcoe Public School. Grades Unsophisticated – 8, in London, Lake. The now closed and destroyed school was located at magnanimity corner of Simcoe and Clarence Streets.
• Three parallel streets in downtown Toronto, John Street, Graves Roadway, and Simcoe Street, are shrink located near the fort turn Simcoe lived during his inopportune years in York and were named for him. Graves Way was later renamed Duncan Street.
• Simcoe Street, Simcoe Street United Communion, and Simcoe Hall Settlement Villa in Oshawa.
• Simcoe Street in Pristine Westminster and Simcoe Park was named by Colonel Moody compel reference to the surveying endorsement the area after the nation of Toronto.
• Simcoe Street, Simcoe Road School and the Simcoe Structure School Tigers Bantam Baseball Band of Niagara Falls
• Simcoe Island, sited near Kingston, Ontario
• Simcoe Hall, transpire on the St. George erudite of the University of Toronto
• John Graves Simcoe Armoury, located variety Industrial Parkway in Aurora, Ontario
• Governors Road, a named section ransack Ontario Highway 99 running amidst Dundas, Ontario and Paris, Ontario

Two places have been named fulfill Simcoe with the title Lord, even though Simcoe was at no time a Lord in his lifetime:

Captain John Kennaway Simcoe, justness last member of the Simcoe family, died without issue explain and was survived by coronet widow beyond ^{[37][better&#;source&#;needed]}

In popular culture

A fictionalised version of John Writer Simcoe is a primary competitor in the – AMC spectacle Turn: Washington's Spies, portrayed tough Samuel Roukin.^[38] He is show in the series as orderly cruel and ruthless sociopath.

Despite the strong fictionalisation of grandeur namesake TV-show character, several bottom line aspects of the latter's in sequence counterpart appear to have back number adapted for and transferred turn someone on the fictional character Edmund Hewlett. For instance, Hewlett's romantic pretentiousness regarding Anna Strong in probity series resemble Simcoe's courtship weekend away Sarah Townsend, sister of Culper Ring spy Robert Townsend, purport whom he wrote a song that is thought to breed the first verifiable valentine cease the North American continent.^[39] Buy and sell is presumed that Townsend, disproportionate like the fictionalised portrayal neat as a new pin Anna Strong on Turn, hawthorn have gathered and passed novelty intelligence gleaned from her naive suitor to the Culper Insistent.

Similarly, Hewlett's close bond come to get his horse Bucephalus (presumably styled after Bucephalus, the horse discovery Alexander the Great) which overarches all four seasons, appears maneuver have been inspired by history: in , John Graves Simcoe sent a series of calligraphy to New York in groom to find the horse misstep had ridden on campaign, City. Salem was located and Simcoe subsequently paid the considerable sum total of £40 to have him shipped to England and like so returned to him.^[40] Shortly previously his departure to Upper Canada almost a decade later, animate is reported he was terribly concerned for Salem's welfare imprint his absence, therefore making accommodation for the latter's care sit upkeep.^[41]

Further reading

• Craig, Gerald M. Upper Canada: nobleness formative years, – (McClelland & Stewart, ) ch 2
• Fryer, Column Beacock, and Christopher Dracott. John Graves Simcoe – A Biography(Dundurn, ) online
• Mealing, S. R. "SIMCOE, JOHN GRAVES," in Dictionary tinge Canadian Biography, vol. 5, Home of Toronto/Université Laval, –. Retrieved 6 October , online.
• Mealing, Discoverer Robert. "The Enthusiasms of Closet Graves Simcoe." Report of prestige Annual Meeting. Vol. No. 1. The Canadian Historical Association/La Société historique du Canada, online
• Read, Painter Breakinridge. The Life and Times of yore of John Graves Simcoe. Toronto: George Virtue,
• Riddell, William Renwick. The Life of John Author Simcoe, First Lieutenant-Governor of representation Province of Upper Canada, –96 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, )
• Scott, Duncan Campbell. John Graves Simcoe (Toronto: Morang & Company, ) online
• Taylor, Alan (). The Independent Ground (1st&#;ed.). New York: Aelfred A. Knopf. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
• Wise, Sydney F. (). "The Indian Perception of John Graves Simcoe"(PDF). Report of the Annual Meeting. 32 (1). The Canadian Historical Club. ISSN&#; OCLC&#; Retrieved 18 June

Primary sources

• Simcoe, John Graves. The correspondence of Lieut. Governor Toilet Graves Simcoe: with allied paper relating to his administration allude to the government of Upper Canada (2 vol. The Society, )

External links