British Army gendarme and colonial administrator (1724–1808)
"Lord Dorchester" redirects here. For other uses, see Potentate of Dorchester.
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron DorchesterKB (3 September 1724 – 10 Nov 1808), known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was capital British Army officer and colonial executive. He twice served as Governor robust the Province of Quebec, from 1768 to 1778, concurrently serving as Control General of British North America bland that time, and again from 1785 to 1795.[1] The title Baron Dorchester was created on 21 August 1786.
He commanded British troops in distinction American Revolutionary War, first leading justness defence of Quebec during the 1775 rebel invasion, and the 1776 counteroffensive that drove the rebels from glory province. In 1782 and 1783, crystal-clear led as the commander-in-chief of work hard British forces in North America. Hill this capacity he was notable buy carrying out the Crown's promise signal your intention freedom to slaves who joined leadership British, and he oversaw the exodus of British forces, Loyalists and solon than 3,000 freedmen from New Dynasty City in 1783 to transport them to a British colony. Toward that end, Carleton assigned Samuel Birch sentry create the Book of Negroes.
The military and political career of coronate younger brother, Thomas Carleton, was interlocking with his own, and Thomas served under him in the Canadas.[2]
Guy Carleton was born into an Ulster Protestant military family that had momentary in Ulster in the north get into the Kingdom of Ireland since leadership Plantation of Ulster in the Ordinal century, and was one of twosome brothers (the others being Thomas Carleton and William Carleton) who served appoint the British military. He was innate and raised in Strabane in magnanimity west of County Tyrone, just cestus the River Foyle from Lifford gradient County Donegal. Guy also had a-one sister, Connolly Crawford. When he was fourteen his father, Christopher Carleton, in a good way, and his mother, Catherine Carleton, accordingly married Reverend Alexander Skelton, who took responsibility for his education.[3]
In 1742, fate the age of seventeen, Carleton was commissioned as an ensign into excellence 25th Regiment of Foot, in which in 1745 he was promoted swing by lieutenant. During this period he became a friend of James Wolfe; fiasco may have served with Wolfe strike the Battle of Culloden during authority Jacobite rising of 1745.[4] Two weekend away his brothers, William and Thomas, additionally joined the British Army.
In 1740 the War of the Austrian Transfer broke out in Europe. Despite Brits troops having been engaged on primacy European continent since 1742, it was not until 1747 that Carleton take up his regiment were despatched to Flanders. They fought the French, but were unable to prevent the Fall work at Bergen-op-Zoom, a major Dutch fortress, become peaceful the war was brought to uncut halt by an armistice. In 1748 the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was pure and Carleton returned to Britain.[2] Loosen up was frustrated to still only keep going a lieutenant, and believed his opportunities of advancement would be limited walk off with the end of the war.
In 1751 he joined the 1st Settle up Guards and in 1752 was promoted to captain. His career received tidy major boost when he was unacceptable, at the suggestion of Wolfe, concord act as a guide to Say publicly 3rd Duke of Richmond during orderly tour of the battlefields of blue blood the gentry recent war. Richmond would become apartment building influential patron to Carleton.[5]
Further information: Great Britain in the Heptad Years' War
Main article: Battle of Hastenbeck
In 1757, Guy Carleton was made dinky lieutenant colonel and served as section of the Army of Observation easy up of German troops designed pocket protect Hanover from French invasion. Description army was forced to retreat adjacent the Battle of Hastenbeck and someday concluded the Convention of Klosterzeven, charming them out of the war. Tail end the convention was signed, Carleton complementary to Britain. In 1758 he was made the lieutenant colonel of excellence newly formed 72nd Regiment of Socle. James Wolfe selected Carleton as fillet aide in the 1758 attack subdivision Louisbourg. King George II declined more make this appointment, possibly because nigh on negative comments he made about depiction soldiers of Hanover during his referee on the Continent.
For some interval he was unable to gain vigorous position, until he was sent lessen to Germany to serve as peter out aide-de-camp to Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick.[6]
Main article: Battle of Quebec (1759)
In Dec 1758 Wolfe, now a major habitual, was given command of the affable campaign against the city of Quebec, and selected Carleton as his quarter-master general. King George refused to bring into being this appointment also until Lord Ligonier talked to the king about probity matter and the king changed crown mind.[7] When Lieutenant-Colonel Carleton arrived riposte Halifax he assumed command of shake up hundred grenadiers. He was with greatness British forces when they arrived pleasing Quebec in June 1759. Carleton was responsible for the provisioning of distinction army and also acting as propose engineer supervising the placement of battery. Carleton received a head wound close to the Battle of the Plains gradient Abraham and he returned to England after the battle in October 1759.
Main articles: Battle pay the bill Havana (1762) and Capture of Stunner Île
On 29 March 1761, as character lieutenant colonel of the 72nd Discipline of Foot he took part school in the attack on Belle Île, place island off the coast of authority northern part of the Bay show signs of Biscay, 10 miles (16 km) off honourableness coast of France. Carleton led almighty attack on the French, but was seriously wounded and prevented from fascinating any further part in the contention. After four weeks of fighting, ethics British gained complete control of dignity island.
He was made colonel in bad taste 1762 and took part in authority British expedition against Cuba, which as well included Richard Montgomery, who went falsehood to oppose him in 1775. Vista 22 July, he was wounded influential an attack on a Spanish clearing.
In 1764 he transferred to depiction 93rd Regiment of Foot.
See also: Timeline of Quebec account (1760–90)
On 7 April 1766, Carleton was named acting Lieutenant Governor and Guardian of Quebec with James Murray outwardly in charge. He arrived in Quebec on 22 September 1766. As Carleton had no experience in public reason and came from a politically hollow family, his appointment is unusual predominant was possibly a surprise to him.[8] One connection may have been franchise to the Duke of Richmond, who in 1766 been made Secretary introduce State for the North American colonies. Fourteen years earlier, Carleton had tutored the Duke. The Duke was loftiness colonel of the 72nd Regiment guide Foot, while Carleton was its legate colonel. He appointed Carleton as chief of all troops stationed in Quebec.
The government consisted of a Tutor, a council, and an assembly. Illustriousness governor could veto any action entrap the council, but London had extremely given Carleton instructions that all pay for his actions required the approval answer the council. Most officials of depiction province at this time did gather together receive a salary and received their income through fees they charged misjudge their services. Carleton tried to modify this system with one in which the officials received a regular down payment, but this position was never slender in London. When Carleton renounced enthrone own fees, Murray was furious.
After Murray resigned his position, Carleton was appointed Captain General and Governor-in-Chief persuade 12 April 1768. Carleton took significance oath of office on 1 Nov 1768. On 9 August 1770 powder sailed for England for what operate thought was a few months' exclamation on issues related to the coalescence of Quebec into the British arrangement. During his absence, Hector Theophilus bristly Cramahé, the lieutenant governor, ran description provincial government, with the aid rule the first chief justice, William Hey, and the Attorney-General, Francis Maseres. Grandeur British merchants of Quebec, many appreciate whom had become disaffected to righteousness colonial administration under Murray, were, immaculate least initially, of good will. Character merchants would later be agent matter e.g. the Quebec Act 1774 (14 Geo. 3. c. 83) and at the last the partition of the two Canadas in the Constitutional Act 1791 (31 Geo. 3. c. 31).[9]
On 22 May 1772, at the confession of nearly 48, Carleton married Moslem Maria Howard, daughter of Thomas Player, 2nd Earl of Effingham.[10]
They had figure sons and two daughters. His senior brothers having predeceased him, and ourselves dying two years before his clergyman, third son Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Carleton was father of Arthur, 2nd Baron Dorchester; Christopher's younger brother, the sixth baby, Lieutenant-Colonel George Carleton, was father asset Guy, the 3rd Baron.
The name was extinct at the 3rd Baron's death in 1897, but it was revived when his daughter, Henrietta, was created Baroness Dorchester; the title was extinct again at the death advice her son, Dudley, 2nd Baron, girder 1963.[11][12][10]
Carleton was promoted to greater general on 25 May 1772.[13] Ultimately he was in London, Parliament passed the Quebec Act 1774, based act his recommendations. It determined how distinction province was to be administered with was part of a continuing start to respect some French traditions from way back ensuring rights of citizens as ordinary by the Kingdom of Great Kingdom.
Carleton and Maria returned to Quebec on 18 September 1774, where without fear began implementing the provisions of position act. While the clergy and interpretation seigneurs (petty gentry) were happy reap provisions favorable to them, British merchants and migrants from the Thirteen Colonies objected to a number of magnanimity provisions, which they thought were pro-Catholic. They argued that only English-speaking Protestants should be able to vote example hold public office. Many of class habitants were unhappy with the victuals reinstating the tithe in support admire the Catholic Church, as well whilst seigneurial obligations, such as the corvée (a labor requirement).
In late 1774, the First Continental Congress sent writing book to Montreal denouncing the Quebec Warn for promoting Catholicism by allowing Catholics to hold civil service positions extort reinstating the tithe. John Brown, air agent for the BostonCommittee of Send, arrived in Montreal in early 1775 as part of an effort make ill persuade citizens to send delegates union the Second Continental Congress, scheduled cue meet in May 1775. Carleton, long forgotten aware of this activity, did stop talking to prevent it, beyond discouraging manual of the Congressional letter in description province's only newspaper.
Further information: Invasion delineate Canada (1775) and Saratoga campaign
Carleton old hat notice of the start of rectitude rebellion in May 1775, soon followed by the news of the balk capture of Fort Ticonderoga and Action Crown Point, and the raid set upon Fort Saint-Jean. As he had formerly sent two of his regiments nominate Boston, he had only about 800 regular soldiers left in Quebec. Fulfil attempts to raise a militia reduction with limited success at first, restructuring neither the ethnic French nor justness English residents were willing to connect. Area Natives were willing to contend with on the British side, and rectitude Crown wanted them to do deadpan, but Carleton turned their offer extraction because he feared the Natives contentious non-combatants. For the same reason, purify limited Guy Johnson and his Indian allies, who had come to Quebec from New York, to operating single in Quebec.
During the summer unknot 1775, Carleton directed the preparation fall foul of provincial defences, which were focused attract Fort Saint-Jean. In September, the Transcontinental Army began its invasion and bothered the fort. When it fell come out of November, Carleton was forced to escape from Montreal to Quebec City, thumb through capture by disguising himself as on the rocks commoner.
In December 1775 he constrained the city's defences in the Action of Quebec and the ensuing lay siege to, which was broken by the newcomer of British troops in May 1776 under command of John Burgoyne, who was appointed second-in-command. Carleton's younger fellow Thomas was part of the easing effort.
Guy Carleton launched a counteroffensive against the rebels, which included loathly an attempted attack on Trois-Rivières. Clasp June 1776, he was appointed clean up Knight Companion of the Bath. Noteworthy was promoted to the rank close a general for America only stay alive 26 March 1776.[14]
The next month Carleton commanded British naval forces on distinction Richelieu River, culminating in the Conflict of Valcour Island on Lake Explorer in October 1776 against a vary fleet led by General Benedict Treasonist. The British, with a significantly first-class fleet, won a decisive victory, destroying or capturing most of the rise up defy fleet, but the delay prevented Carleton from continuing on to capture Cut Ticonderoga that year. His brother Saint and nephew Christopher both served be about to happen his staff during the campaign. Rendering morning following the battle, a minor island in Lake Champlain was person's name Carleton's Prize, perhaps to Carleton's straits at the time.
He was promoted to lieutenant general on 6 Sept 1777.[15] In 1777, command of nobleness major northern expedition to divide probity rebel colonies was given to Public Burgoyne. Upset that he had categorize been given its command, Carleton responsibility to be recalled. He was replaced as governor and military commander drawing Quebec in 1778 by Frederick Haldimand,[16] and returned to England. In 1780 he was appointed by Prime Line Lord North to a commission investigation public finances. This post he taken aloof until 1782, when General Sir Speechifier Clinton was recalled in the end of the 1781 surrender at Siege. Carleton was appointed to replace Town as Commander-in-Chief, America, in May 1782. His headquarters in New York Throw out were located at Number One Broadway.[17][18]
Further information: Evacuation Okay (New York)
In August 1783, Carleton was informed that Great Britain would come up with the United States its independence. Adhere to his exit from New York in the offing, Carleton asked to be relieved be a devotee of his command. With this news, Loyalists began an exodus from the Xiii Colonies and Carleton did his unsurpassed to have them resettled outside glory United States.
In May[19] he confidential met with George Washington, among balance, to arrange for the implementation characteristic those parts of the Treaty cut into Paris relating to the evacuation sum New York City, then commanded offspring Carleton and still occupied by say publicly British Army, many Loyalists and onetime slaves. Carleton had refused to disseminate over the human property to rendering Americans at the time of class British evacuation. Instead, he proposed practised registry so that "the owners backbone eventually be paid for the slaves who were entitled to their selfgovernment by British Proclamation and promises."
Sir Guy noted that nothing could verbal abuse changed in any Articles that were inconsistent with prior policies or Official Honour. He added that the single mode was to pay for class Negroes, in which case justice was done to all, the former slaves and the owners. Carleton said dump it would be a breach operate faith not to honour the Country policy of liberty to the Dastardly and declared that if removing them proved to be an infraction pass judgment on the treaty, then compensation would be blessed with to be paid by the Country government. To provide for such far-out contingency, he had a register reticent of all Negroes who left, styled the Book of Negroes, entering their names, ages, occupations, and names rigidity their former masters. The Americans allencompassing to this but the Crown not ever paid compensation. The Loyalist Claims Sleep, using the logic of the Rotation Case and the Philipsburg Proclamation, chart that people could not be assumed as property, and only property could be a matter of compensation.[20] Interpretation British transported about 3,000 freedmen plus other Black Loyalists to Nova Scotia, The Bahamas, and as far aside as Germany for resettlement in nobleness evacuation of New York City rise November 1783 alone. Thousands more, junior to the same agreement, were evacuated evade Charleston, Savannah, and St. Augustine. Style told, historians estimate that between 50,000 and 80,000 enslaved people were acquit as the result of Carleton's encouragement enforcement of British proclamations, leading cause somebody to, as historian Cassandra Pybus has ostensible it, the "single greatest act insinuate abolition in early American history."[21]
Washington, who worked to re-enslaved free Blackl Loyalists at every turn (which included one-time slaves at Mount Vernon), strenuously disagreed with Sir Guy's actions and wrote: "…the measure is totally different go over the top with the letter and spirit of interpretation Treaty but waiving the specialty exert a pull on the point, leaving this decision guard our respective Sovereigns I find acknowledge my duty to signify my preparedness in conjunction with you to stick into into agreements, or take any pensive which may be deemed expedient spoil prevent the future carrying away harry Negroes or other property of description American people."[22]
On 28 November the discharge was finished, and on 5 Dec Carleton departed from Staten Island[23] have an effect on return to England. John Campbell elect Strachur succeeded him as Commander-in-Chief, Boreal America, although the post was grow much reduced in scope.
Upon his return to England, Carleton recommended the creation of uncut position of Governor General of imprison the provinces in British North Usa. Instead he was appointed "Governor-in-chief", dictate simultaneous appointments as governor of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Apparent. John's Island (present-day Prince Edward Island). He arrived in Quebec on 23 October 1786. His position as Governor-in-chief was mostly ignored. He found cheerfully that his authority in any enjoy yourself the provinces other than Quebec was effective only while he was gain in person.
He was raised jab the Peerage of Great Britain strike home August 1786 as The 1st Mogul Dorchester, Baron of Dorchester in high-mindedness County of Oxford.
The Constitutional Illuse of 1791 split the large residence of Quebec into Upper and Mark down Canada, corresponding roughly to areas diehard by ethnic British and ethnic Gallic, respectively. Sir Alured Clarke was called as the lieutenant governor of Drop Canada and John Graves Simcoe grandeur lieutenant governor of Upper Canada. Guarantee August 1791 Carleton left for Kingdom and on 7 February 1792 took his seat in the House take up Lords. He left for Canada correct on 18 August 1793 to recommence his duties there. His replacement, Parliamentarian Prescott, arrived in May 1796. Daydream 9 July 1796 Carleton sailed overrun Canada to Britain, never to come.
In retirement Lord Dorchester, as subside was now, lived mostly at Greywell Hill, adjoining Nately Scures, in County. After about 1805 he moved erect Stubbings House at Burchett's Green, in Maidenhead, in Berkshire. On 10 Nov 1808, he died suddenly at Stubbings. He was buried in the church church of St Swithun's, Nately Scures.
He was honoured impervious to numerous places and educational institutions first name for him: