36-806: Captain John Glegg was a soldier in the 49th Regiment of Foot of the British Army . He served with General Isaac Brock as one of two aides-de-camp during the War of 1812 . He was in charge of funeral arrangements for Brock, who died at the Battle of Queenston Heights . This biographical article related to the military of the United Kingdom or its predecessor states is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . 49th Regiment of Foot The 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot
72-577: A "prime example of government patronage " by William Lyon Mackenzie . It is noted that the Rebellion of 1837 in Upper Canada brought out "the peak of FitzGibbon's career" and he would be made the acting adjutant-general of militia in Upper Canada, but FitzGibbon would retire the day after the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern , citing " Head's treatment". This "treatment" was likely Head's preferential choosing of Allan MacNab over FitzGibbon first in leading
108-634: A private soldier. He first fought in battle in 1799 at Egmond aan Zee , the Netherlands. He later served as a marine in the Battle of Copenhagen , for which he received the Naval General Service Medal . He went to the Canadas in 1802, by which time he was a sergeant . He apparently played a key role in the suppression of a near-mutiny at Fort George, Upper Canada , but there is no mention of this in his official biography. In 1806, when he
144-589: A single depot and recruiting district in the United Kingdom, the 49th was linked with the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot , and assigned to district no. 41 at Brock Barracks in Reading . On 1 July 1881 the Childers Reforms came into effect and the regiment amalgamated with the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot to form the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) . Battle honours awarded to
180-579: Is buried there in the crypt of St. George's Chapel . In 2003 his descendants donated some of his personal effects, including a signet ring and a ceremonial sword, to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa . FitzGibbon appears in The Bully Boys , a novel by Eric Walters . The book follows his interactions with fictional character Thomas Roberts, whom he takes under his wing during the events surrounding
216-583: The Battle of Copenhagen in April 1801. After losing its marine designation, the regiment was deployed to Canada in 1802. The regiment served under Major-General Sir Isaac Brock at the Battle of Queenston Heights in October 1812 during the War of 1812 . The regiment returned home in 1815 to undertake Royal guarding duties at Weymouth . The regiment's new scarlet coats and white breeches so impressed Princess Charlotte of Wales that she asked to be associated with
252-626: The Battle of Fort George , at the Fort itself. However, it appears that FitzGibbon was not, as there is a notable lack of evidence within FitzGibbon's official biography of any presence or action of James; it is likely that if a figure held in such high historical esteem as FitzGibbon was present at the battle, this information would be readily available. In August 1812, FitzGibbon escorted a brigade of ships holding military stores from Montreal to Kingston, going through "the rapids" (the "International Rapids") of
288-685: The Battle of Fort Washington in November 1776. It went on to take part in the Philadelphia campaign , seeing action at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777, the Battle of Paoli later that month and the Battle of Germantown in October 1777. It was following the British attack on the Americans at Brandywine, where the light company of the regiment took no prisoners and the Americans demanded vengeance, that
324-663: The Family Compact , and an Irish soldier in the British Army in Europe before and in the Canadas during the War of 1812 who received messages of warning from two Canadian folk heroes: Laura Secord (Ingersoll) and Billy Green . James held many titles with Upper Canadian society after the War of 1812, and before the Rebellions of 1837-1838 would be considered a prominent Canadian Tory and
360-614: The St. Lawrence River , while in view of the American shore. In January 1813, FitzGibbon led 45 sleighs holding needed supplies from Kingston to Niagara through the Canadian winter. FitzGibbon fought at the Battle of Stoney Creek on 6 June 1813. Three weeks later, he led 50 soldiers in guerrilla-style raids on a large American force that had captured Fort George on the Niagara Peninsula . It
396-487: The Battle of Beaver Dams, FitzGibbon would operate almost exclusively in reconnaissance and observing the movement of the American troops. In 1814 he fought at the Battle of Lundy's Lane but his part was not effective. FitzGibbon and his Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles were attacking the left flank of the opposing American forces when both he and his troops were mistaken as American soldiers themselves by regular troops under
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#1733093245983432-621: The House of Assembly came as reward for this action, and would select FitzGibbon as "a prime example of government patronage". He denied accusations by Francis Collins in the Canadian Freeman that Maitland contributed to the fund but did not deny his involvement or contributions from other government administrators. During the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, FitzGibbon was appointed Acting Adjutant-General of Militia. He organised and led
468-526: The attack on Montgomery's Tavern. FitzGibbon would argue in a pamphlet called An appeal to the people of the late province of Upper Canada submitted to the British government in 1847 that he and his actions had "saved Upper Canada for the Empire" during the Rebellions of 1837–1838, but nothing came from it. FitzGibbon's biography notes him essentially as having been an extremely effective man in his career who
504-446: The command of Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond , who subsequently fired on them. FitzGibbon and his force, in consequence of this friendly-fire, were forced to withdraw. However, as argued by American historian John R. Elting, the strategy that FitzGibbon was using (in seeking to attack the weakened left flank) against the Americans would likely have been successful in achieving a divisive victory for Drummond if Drummond has concentrated
540-487: The credit". This was also the battle wherein FitzGibbon would receive warning from Laura Secord (Ingersoll). After the war, FitzGibbon retired on half-pay and became a clerk in the office of the Adjutant-General of the militia. He was later promoted to Assistant Adjutant-General. FitzGibbon married his one and only wife, Mary Haley, in 1814. They would have five children together - four sons and one daughter - with
576-571: The daughter "living beyond infancy". In 1818, FitzGibbon responded to accusations from Robert Gourlay that the lieutenant-governor thought Canadians were disloyal and ungrateful British subjects. In 1824 the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada Peregrine Maitland sent FitzGibbon to negotiate an end to riots in the Bathurst District of York between Irish settlers and previous residents. A year later newspapers in Upper Canada questioned
612-434: The forces that defended Toronto from William Lyon Mackenzie 's rebel force. FitzGibbon would suffer a mental breakdown before the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern as he had to equip and form about 1200 volunteers the next morning, and had no experience organizing troops for battle. FitzGibbon would retire to his office, fall on his knees in prayer, and accomplish his task following restored post-prayer composure. The battle
648-457: The horrors of a civil war". They would propose a gift in his honour in the form of a money donation, but this money never materialized. In 1842 he left Toronto and lived on Seaton (now Arch) Street in Kingston. After various proposals, ignored appeals, and rejections for giving a monetary gift to FitzGibbon, finally a sum of 1000 British pounds would be given to him - but this amount was only half
684-570: The injustice of the long delay in granting him his well-earned reward". Born to Garrett (Gerald) FitzGibbon and Mary Widenham in Glin, County Limerick , Ireland, he enlisted in the Knight of Glin 's Yeomanry Corps at age 15. Three years later, he joined the Tarbert Infantry Fencibles , an Irish home service regiment, from which he was recruited into the British Army 's 49th Regiment of Foot as
720-665: The loyalty of Irish immigrants and FitzGibbon wrote editorials defending the immigrants. From 1822 to 1826, FitzGibbon held the position of highest-ranking member of the Masonic lodge in Upper Canada as deputy provincial grand master. The next position up - provincial grand master - would have to be retained in England. In 1826, FitzGibbon initiated a campaign to help the defendants of the Types Riot pay their settlement to Mackenzie. Mackenzie would claim that FitzGibbon's appointment as clerk of
756-514: The majority of his troops on the left flank itself. After FitzGibbon's involvement in the Battle of Beaver Dams , a local legend was created (perhaps by Mohawk Chief John Norton who was present at the time, perhaps by William Hamilton Merritt ) and lamented through a piece of prose: "The Caughnawaga (Norton's troops, aka the Kahnawake) got the victory, the Mohawks got the plunder and FitzGibbon got
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#1733093245983792-606: The members of the regiment were re-designated as marines for service in the French Revolutionary Wars . In that capacity the regiment was sent to garrison Dominica in 1794. After returning to England in 1796, the regiment was sent to Ostend in 1798 to take part in the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland in August 1799 and saw action at the Battle of Alkmaar in October 1799. It also served under Admiral Hyde Parker at
828-592: The occupation of Shanghai in summer 1842. It then returned home in 1843. The regiment departed for service in the Crimean War in early 1854 and fought at the Battle of Alma in September 1854, the Battle of Inkerman in November 1854 and the Siege of Sevastopol in winter 1854. It then returned home in 1856. As part of the Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s, where single-battalion regiments were linked together to share
864-460: The one to lead the troops after "vigorous protesting" to Head. FitzGibbon was a founding member of the York Mechanics' Institute in 1831. The Bank of Upper Canada would threaten to sue FitzGibbon for money borrowed to pay off creditors, but the threat was never carried out. In May 1838, the citizens of Toronto held a public meeting and expressed gratitude in FitzGibbon for "rescuing them from
900-596: The regiment decided to insert identifying red feathers in their shako helmets to prevent anyone else suffering on their account. It then sailed for the West Indies in summer 1778 and took part in the British victory at the Battle of St. Lucia in December 1778 before returning to Ireland in 1780. In 1782, the regiment received a county distinction becoming the 49th (the Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot . In 1793
936-521: The regiment were: Victoria Crosses awarded to men of the regiment were: Colonels of the regiment were: Regimental titles in italics indicate they were disbanded or renumbered before 1881. James FitzGibbon James FitzGibbon (16 November 1780 – 10 December 1863) was a public servant, prominent freemason of the masonic lodge from 1822 to 1826 (holding the highest position in Upper Canada of deputy provincial grand master), member of
972-466: The regiment. The regiment accordingly became the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (or the Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot in 1816. Sergeant James FitzGibbon was amongst those soldiers who landed with the regiment in 1802. FitzGibbon became a member of the Family Compact , who essentially owned and operated the Upper Canadian economy and society through business, marriage, or political ties. He
1008-402: The total of FitzGibbon's debts. FitzGibbon's physician - Dr. William Winder - said of him in 1845 that his character essentially flipped: "FitzGibbon was temperament, highly sanguine and nervous" which along with "disappointments and distresses of no ordinary character" had come to produce "a state of mental irritation, prostration, and despondency, plus loss of memory" in the man. FitzGibbon
1044-463: Was a line infantry regiment of the British Army , raised in 1743. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot to form the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) in 1881. The regiment was raised in Jamaica by Colonel Edward Trelawney as Edward Trelawney's Regiment of Foot in 1743 from eight independent local companies. The regiment
1080-433: Was cheated of any real reward beyond recognition. FitzGibbon was "intensely loyal (to the crown) and had a keen mind, but lacked the formal education, wealth, and social background that would have enabled him to penetrate the ranks of office in the army or government". Nevertheless, FitzGibbon is still noted as being "a conscientious, capable, and zealous public servant until he became overburdened with debt and grew obsessed by
1116-520: Was he who was warned by Laura Secord on 22 June about an impending surprise attack by 500 American troops. This led to the Battle of Beaver Dams near present-day Thorold, Ontario , where FitzGibbon's force, together with about 400 Mohawk and Odawa warriors, defeated the Americans and took 462 prisoners. The victory made FitzGibbon a popular hero and he was promoted to captain in the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles. After
John Glegg - Misplaced Pages Continue
1152-623: Was present during the Rebellions of 1837-1838 , fighting against political reformers at the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern alongside future first Prime Minister of Canada Sir John A. Macdonald . The regiment was sent to China in 1840 for service in the First Opium War . It fought at the Capture of Chusan in July 1840, the Battle of Canton in March 1841 and the Battle of Amoy in August 1841 as well as
1188-573: Was ranked as the 63rd Regiment of Foot in 1747 and re-ranked as the 49th Regiment of Foot in 1751. The regiment landed in Ireland in 1764 and remained there until embarking for Newfoundland in 1772. The regiment moved to Boston in June 1775 for service in the American Revolutionary War . It fought at the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, the Battle of White Plains in October 1776 and
1224-540: Was retired on pension in 1846 following his "virtual transformation of the Office into a sinecure". He moved to England in 1847 after the death of his wife Mary Haley, with whom he had four sons and a daughter. In 1850 he was appointed a Military Knight of Windsor through the influence of Lord Seaton . There, FitzGibbon lived on a small allowance, in comfortable quarters provided by the crown, using his Canadian pension to pay off debts. He died at Windsor Castle in 1863 and
1260-438: Was the regiment's sergeant-major , his commanding officer, Isaac Brock , made him an officer. This was extremely unusual at the time as most officers' commissions were bought . Later the same year he was appointed regimental adjutant . In 1809, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant . The "main body" of FitzGibbon's enlisted regiment - the 49th Regiment of Foot (though without its modern renaming) - were present during
1296-445: Was won and both the physical building of Montgomery's Tavern and the home of a rebel named David Gibson were burned to the ground. The day after the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern, FitzGibbon would resign as acting adjutant general of the Upper Canadian militia following Sir Francis Bond Head's "treatment" to FitzGibbon - that likely being Head's decision to first have MacNab lead the troops over FitzGibbon. Note that FitzGibbon would be
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