Brock, Sir Isaac

(1769-1812)

   Bk Birth and descent, 6; enters army at age of fifteen, 7; joins 49th Regiment with rank of captain, and is sent to West Indies, 8; returns to England on sick leave, 9; senior lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, 10; takes part in expedition to Holland under Sir Ralph Abercromby, 13; his account of battle of Egmont-op-Zee, 17; quartered in Jersey and visits home in Guernsey, 22; joins expedition to the Baltic, 24; his regiment ordered to Canada, 31; arrives at Quebec, 34; his regiment ordered to Upper Province, 48; his vigorous pursuit of deserters, 60; quells mutiny at Fort George, 61-63; assumes command at the fort, 64; recommends establishment of corps of veterans who on discharge might receive grants of land, 64; impressed by comfortable condition of loyalist settlers, 65; contrasts their character with that of settlers of the later (1793) immigration, 66; takes special interest in Sergeant-Major (afterwards Colonel) James FitzGibbon, 66; quartered in Quebec, 69; made a full colonel and goes to England on leave, 70; returns to Canada, 73; assumes chief military command at Quebec, 73; recommends strengthening of the fortifications of Quebec, 75, 94; differences with President Dunn, 77; leaves control of Indian affairs in Upper Canada to lieutenant-governor, 78; examines accounts of the deputy commissary-general, 78, 79; effects improvements in marine department, 80; tries to make Quebec impregnable, 86; dissatisfied with measures of defence adopted by the civil government, 94; letters to James Cuthbert of Berthier, 95, 98; confident that Canadians would vigorously resist American invasion, 97; leaves Quebec to take command in Montreal, 99; appointed acting brigadier-general 99; his social qualities, 101; returns to Quebec, 115; anxious for service in Europe, 123, 124; considers war with United States (1809) imminent, 124; his opinion of the Lower Canada Assembly, 126; ordered to Upper Canada, 133; his books, 135; literary tastes, 136; application for leave not entertained, 136-138, 155; correspondence with Lieutenant-Governor Gore respecting grant of land to Colonel Vesey, 138; high opinion entertained of, at headquarters, 141; pleasantly entertained by Lieutenant-Governor Gore, 143; anxiety as to management of Indians, 149-152; made major-general, 157; made president and administrator of Upper Canada in absence of Lieutenant-Governor Gore, 159; financial misfortune, 161; letter to his brother Irving, 163-165; his strong family affection, 163; his energy as administrator, 168; his opinion of the Little Belt affair, 173; his endeavours to avert Indian warfare, 176; sends plan of campaign to General Prévost, 177-179; recommends increase of naval force on lakes, 178; offered service in Spain, but does not accept it, 180; his plan for formation of flank companies adopted, 181; speech on opening of Legislature of Upper Canada, 183; measures proposed by, to Legislature, 184; recognizes presence of many persons of doubtful loyalty in the province, 185, 214; disappointed with action of Legislature, 185; urges importance of prompt seizure of Detroit and Michilimackinac, 195; selects Major-General Shaw to protect line between Kingston and Cornwall, 195; his Indian policy, 197; receives news of declaration of war, 203; establishes headquarters at Fort George, 204; instructs Captain Roberts to capture Michilimackinac, 210; commends militia in general order, 212; recognizes the great odds against Canada, 215; sends Colonel Procter to Amherstburg, 215; his proclamation in answer to Hull's, 217; proclamation as president of province, 219, 221; opens the Legislature, 222; hears of capture of Michilimackinac, 223; prorogues Legislature, 229; proceeds to western frontier, 231; meets Tecumseh for the first time, 245; describes him to Lord Liverpool, 247; forms three brigades, 247; decides on attacking Detroit, 248; summons Hull to surrender, 250; attacks, 251-254; his daring in battle, 253; takes Detroit and makes Hull's army prisoners of war, 255, 256; praises his army, 258; his message to his brothers, 260; his proclamation to inhabitants of Michigan territory, 261; armistice concluded by Prévost deranges his plans, 261; arrives at York, and is warmly welcomed, 262; letter to his brothers, 266-268; arrives at Kingston, 268; proposes to attack Sackett's Harbour, but is overruled by Prévost, 270, 271; letter to Prévost asking for reinforcements, 272, 273; replies to objections made by Prévost to Fort Wayne expedition, 275-277; instructed to evacuate Detroit, 277; extreme anxiety not to alienate Indians, 277, 278, 280; health, discipline, and morals of his army, 279; letter to his brother Savery, 280, 281; his force on Niagara frontier, 287; his account of capture of brigs Detroit and Caledoniaby Americans, 290-293; rejoicing in England over the victory at Detroit, 295; Brock made K.C.B., 296; Prince Rupert's high opinion of, 297; last despatch to Prévost, 298; in battle at Queenston Heights, 298-304; his death, 304; a national loss, 312; his burial and monument, 312, 313. BL Sydenham ranked with, 112.

   Bib.: Tupper, Life and Correspondence of Sir Isaac Brock; Read, Life of Brock; Nursey, Isaac Brock; Lucas, Canadian War of 1812; Dent, Can. Por.

   See also War of 1812.