II, was a keeper of a castle in Brittany, then an English
duchy, but which was overrun by the French about the
middle of the fourteenth century, the English driven
out, and the French made masters of the principality.”
Brock received his education at Southampton and
Rotterdam, entering the British army in 1785 with the
rank of ensign in the 8th Regiment, also known as the
King’s Regiment. By the age of 27, he held the rank of
lieutenant colonel in the 49th Regiment of Foot. He was
sent to Holland in 1799, where, serving under Sir John
moore, he was wounded at the battle of Egmont-op-
Zee. In 1801, when British forces under Lord nelson
attacked Denmark, Brock was one of those seeing ac-
tion. A year later, he was sent to Canada to guard that
country’s border against a possible invasion by the
United States.
For three years, 1802–05, Brock served at various
military posts from Montreal to York (now Toronto)
and Quebec while transforming the 49th Regiment of
Foot into one of Britain’s best regimental units. He was
recalled to London but in 1806 was transferred back to
Canada when war with the United States appeared im-
minent. The British navy’s impressment, or kidnapping,
of American sailors from U.S. ships had led to increased
tension between the two countries. When, in 1807, the
British attacked an American warship, the Chesapeake,
and dragged four British deserters from the vessel, armed
conflict moved closer, although it would not break out
for another five years. In 1810, Brock became com-
mander of all troops in Upper Canada; a year later, he
was named lieutenant governor of Canada, in effect be-
coming both the civil and military leader.
In 1812, with the imminent outbreak of war be-
tween the United States and Great Britain, Brock pre-
pared for an invasion of Canada by fortifying defenses
and arming citizens and soldiers. However, he had not
received the supplies from London that he needed, and
when war was declared he had only about 4,000 soldiers
fully equipped to fight. On 12 July 1812, American
general William Hull crossed into Canada from what is
now Detroit, Michigan, with 2,200 men. Marching on
the city of Sandwich (now Windsor), Hull hesitated be-
fore attacking Brock’s main force. This mistake allowed
Brock to go on the offense. British troops arrived at the
American base of Michilimackinac and took control,
cutting Hull off from further supplies and reinforce-
ments. He withdrew south to Fort Detroit, back over
the border. Brock then joined with American Indians,
including those under the command of the Shawnee
chief Tecumseh, and marched toward Detroit with 730
men and 600 Indian fighters. Brock anticipated a long
siege at Detroit, and when he arrived there he demanded
Hull’s surrender but was refused. With more than 2,500
troops, Hull had a 2-to-1 advantage over Brock, but
what Brock did not know was that the Americans were
ill prepared to fight, and future reinforcements were not
coming. On 16 August 1812, Hull surrendered his entire
force and the fort, stunning both his officers and Brock
himself. Although barely a shot had been fired, except
for some cannons by the British, Brock was lauded for
his “victory.” He was eventually knighted and hailed as
“the hero of Upper Canada.”
Brock did not stop at Detroit; he moved his troops
into a defensive position near the Niagara River near the
village of Queenstown (also Queenston). On 13 Octo-
ber 1812, General Stephen Van Rensselaer and his force
crossed the Niagara with some 3,000 troops and easily
captured the heights surrounding Queenstown. Brock
moved troops to oppose them. Brock biographer Read
writes:In the struggle which ensued, [Captain] Wool’s
men were driven to the edge of the high bank of
the Niagara River. Here the Americans, with the
storming foe before them, a precipice of 180 feet
behind, and the roaring Niagara beneath, found
themselves in an extremely perilous position. An
attempt was made by some of the American of-
ficers to raise the white flag, with an intention to
surrender, but Captain Wool tore it down and
trampled it under foot. Reinforcements coming
to their aid, the regulars opening a scathing fire
of musketry. Brock, always in the front, roused
beyond himself, conspicuous by his height, dress,
gesture and undaunted bearing, was pointing to
the hill, when he was struck by a ball in the right
breast, which passed through his left side. He
reeled and fell. His attendant officers rushed to
his side, but saw at once that their brave com-
mander was mortally stricken. He lived only long
enough after receiving the fatal bullet to request
that his fall might not be noticed, or prevent
the advance of his brave troops, adding a wish,
which could not be distinctly understood, that
some token of remembrance should be transmit-
ted to his sister.0 bRock, SiR iSAAc