in Hertfordshire on May 5, 1786. Like Freder-
ick Haldimand, he was one of several skillful
Swiss mercenaries to distinguish himself in
the British service. His son, George Prevost,
also served as governor-general of Canada
throughout the War of 1812.
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Florida in the American Revolution.Gainesville:
University Press of Florida, 1975.PREVOST, GEORGE
Prevost, George
(May 19, 1767–January 5, 1816)
English General; Governor-General of Canada
T
he much-maligned Prevost was a cau-
tious-minded senior British com-
mander during the War of 1812.
Roundly criticized for military incompetence,
he was nonetheless responsible for the over-
all defensive strategy that preserved Canada
from American conquest. He also enacted
conciliatory policies to cement French Cana-
dien loyalties to England.
George Prevost was born in New Jersey on
May 19, 1767, the son of Maj. Gen. Augustin
Prevost, then an officer with the 60th Regi-
ment of Foot (the Royal Americans). Edu-
cated in Europe and fluent in French, young
Prevost followed into his father’s regiment in
1779 by becoming an ensign in the 60th Regi-
ment. Following a series of transfers and pro-
motions with other corps, he returned to the
60th in 1790 as a major. He rose to lieutenant
colonel by 1794 and, two years later, rendered
distinguished service in the West Indies. Pre-
vost was wounded twice during the capture of
St. Vincent, where he gained a promotion to
colonel in 1798. That year, by dint of his lin-
gual skills, he was also made governor of the
captured French island of St. Lucia. A dis-
creet, cheerful individual and versed in the nu-
ances of Gallic sensibilities, Prevost so won
the hearts of his former enemies that they pe-
titioned him to become their civil governor!
Following a brief return to England in 1802, he
next served as governor-general of Dominica,
again to the complete satisfaction of all par-
ties. In 1805, Prevost adroitly defended the is-
land against a French invasion, winning a pro-
motion to major general. In that capacity he
next ventured to Nova Scotia in 1808 as lieu-
tenant governor, with a rank of lieutenant gen-
eral, and successfully navigated the treacher-
ous waters of provincial politics. The