Department of Archives and History, 1927–1984;
Strong, Russell W. “Governor Bienville and the Fate
of French Louisiana.” Gulf Coast Historical Review1 (1993): 6–17; Woods, Patricia D. French-Indian Re-
lations on the Southern Frontier, 1699–1762.Ann
Arbor, MI: UMI Research Press, 1980.BISSHOPP, CECIL
Bisshopp, Cecil
(June 25, 1783–July 16, 1813)
English Army Officer
A
dashing leader, Bisshopp served as an
infantry officer as well as inspector
general of the Upper Canada militia
during the War of 1812. He conducted nu-
merous successful raids along the Niagara
frontier before losing his life in a protracted
skirmish.
Cecil Bisshopp was born in Parham House,
West Sussex, on June 25, 1783, the son of a
baronet and former member of Parliament.
He belonged to an ancient, landed family and,
as the only surviving son, stood to inherent an
impressive fortune. However, Bisshopp was
drawn quite early to the military profession,
and in September 1799 he obtained an en-
sign’s commission in the prestigious First
Foot Guards. Over the next 10 years he func-
tioned capably, serving as private secretary to
Adm. Sir John Borlase Warren at St. Peters-
burg and accompanying expeditions to Spain
and the Netherlands. By dint of good service,
Bisshopp rose to brevet major in January
1812, and the following month he transferred
to Canada as inspecting field officer of the
Upper Canada militia. That distant region was
considered a backwater compared to military
theaters in Europe, and assignment there was
most unwelcome to ambitious young officers.
But Bisshopp muted his disappointment and
shouldered his responsibilities dutifully, de-
claring, “Were it not for the extensive com-
mand I have and the quantity of business I
have to do, I should hang myself.” When the
War of 1812 against the United States com-
menced on June 18, 1812, the young soldier
suddenly found himself with more than
enough work to keep him occupied.
After passing several months at Montreal,
Bisshopp was transferred to the Niagara
frontier attached to British forces under Gen.
Roger Hale Sheaffe. He was tasked with
commanding regular and militia forces sta-
tioned between Chippewa and Fort Erie near
the southernmost end of the Niagara Penin-
sula. On November 28, 1812, an American in-
vasion force under Gen. Alexander Smyth
had gathered at Black Rock, New York, for
the purpose of crossing into Canada. To facil-
itate this invasion, an advanced party of sev-
eral hundred men landed the previous night
to spike the guns and destroy a bridge over
Frenchman’s Creek. Bisshopp, however, suc-
cessfully engaged the marauders in a confus-
ing night battle and managed to drive them
off with loss. Later that day, Smyth sent him
an ultimatum demanding his surrender to
“spare the effusion of blood,” but Bisshopp
contemptuously declined. The American
leader then suddenly and inexplicably or-
dered his force to disembark and return to
their tents, much to the surprise and delight
of the British defenders. Thus far, Smyth’s ef-
forts at Niagara amounted to little and culmi-
nated in his removal.
In May 1813, the calm along the Niagara
frontier was shattered by the American cap-
ture of Fort George at the northern end of the
peninsula. Bisshopp, acting under the orders
of Gen. John Vincent, abandoned Fort Erie
to the enemy and rapidly withdrew his men to