A curious sideline to Haldimand’s activities
was his clandestine correspondence with
American Col. Ethan Allen over the issue of
Vermont. Possession of that tract of land was
hotly contested by New York and New Hamp-
shire, but Allen and many residents wanted
independence from both. When it became ap-
parent that the Continental Congress was too
busy with more pressing matters to address
their grievances, Allen opened treasonable
negotiations with Haldimand over the possi-
bility of Vermont as an independent Crown
colony. Discussions commenced in 1779 and
continued over the next two years, ceasing
only after the surrender of Charles Corn-
wallisat Yorktown.
In 1782, the new government of Lord Shel-
burne, fearing the possibility of a renewed
French attack against Canada, wished to re-
move Haldimand from authority there. De-
spite his good service, they distrusted the
judgment of a foreigner in the defense of a
British province, and Carleton was reassigned
as governor-general. Haldimand politely but
firmly declined to serve under that officer a
second time, but insomuch as Carleton was
detained at New York City on other issues,
Haldimand was allowed to retain his office
until 1785. Once back in England, he received
the prestigious Order of the Bath for three
decades of conspicuous service to the Crown.
However, he was shocked that the govern-
ment had completely abandoned its Indian al-
lies during peace negotiations with the United
States, and he labored ceaselessly to acquire
just compensation for them. Haldimand then
retired from the service and spent many years
shuttling between London and his native
birthplace. He died at Champettit, Switzer-
land, on June 5, 1791, one of the most compe-
tent British leaders of the American Revolu-
tion and—fortunately for the United
States—one of the least employed.See also
Brant, JosephBibliography
Dendy, John O. “Frederick Haldimand and the Defense
of Canada, 1778–1784.” Unpublished Ph.D. disserta-
tion, Duke University, 1972; Hatvany, Matthew G.
“Overcoming Ethnic and Social Barriers in Colonial
British America: The ‘Meritorious’ Career of Freder-
ick Haldimand.” Historian58 (1996): 589–604; Lanc-
tot, Gustave. Canada and the American Revolution,
1774–1783.Cambridge: Harvard University Press,
1967; Leuthy, Ivor C.E. “General Sir Frederick
Haldimand.” Canadian Ethnic Studies3 (1971):
63–75; McIlwraith, Jean N. Sir Frederick
Haldimand.Toronto: Morang, 1904; Rhea, Robert R.
“Brigadier Frederick Haldimand: The Florida Years.”
Florida Historical Quarterly54 (1976): 512–531;
Whitfield, Faye V. “The Topography of the British
Northern Interior of Defense During the Haldimand
Revolutionary War Administration of Quebec,
1778–1782.” Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, McMas-
ter University, 1993.HAMILTON, HENRY
Hamilton, Henry
(ca. 1734–September 29, 1796)
English Colonial Governor
W
idely disparaged as the hated “Hair-
buyer,” Hamilton was an effective
colonial officer of the Old Northwest
who encouraged Indian raids on American
frontier settlements. He performed exception-
ally well in that capacity—until running afoul
of an expedition headed by Col. George
Rogers Clark.