Charles Preston
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Preston, 5th Baronet (c. 1735 - 23 March 1800) was a British
Major
who was stationed in Canada
during the American Revolutionary War
.
to delay the American advance on Montreal
, and Quebec
. He was in command of 662 men of the 26th Regiment, engineers, Canadians, and Indians. They held Fort St. Jean
, at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
, in 1775 when it came under siege by American General Richard Montgomery
, and resisted multiple attacks by troops under command of Montgomery and Philip Schuyler
. His troops held the fort in hopes of being rescued by reinforcements for two months before surrendering on the third of November 1775.
, in 1784, he became Member of Parliament for Dysart, from 1774-1790.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
who was stationed in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Revolutionary War
He was ordered by Gen. Guy CarletonGuy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
to delay the American advance on Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He was in command of 662 men of the 26th Regiment, engineers, Canadians, and Indians. They held Fort St. Jean
Fort Saint-Jean (Quebec)
Fort Saint-Jean is a fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec located on the Richelieu River. The fort was first built in 1666 by soldiers of the Carignan-Salières Regiment and was part of a series of forts built along the Richelieu River...
, at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, in 1775 when it came under siege by American General Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery was an Irish-born soldier who first served in the British Army. He later became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and he is most famous for leading the failed 1775 invasion of Canada.Montgomery was born and raised in Ireland...
, and resisted multiple attacks by troops under command of Montgomery and Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
. His troops held the fort in hopes of being rescued by reinforcements for two months before surrendering on the third of November 1775.
After the war
On his return to Valleyfield, FifeValleyfield, Fife
High Valleyfield and Low Valleyfield which are neighbouring villages in Fife, Scotland, midway between Dunfermline and Kincardine-on-Forth...
, in 1784, he became Member of Parliament for Dysart, from 1774-1790.