John Small (British Army officer)
Encyclopedia
Major-General John Small (1726 – 17 March 1796) was a British military officer who was most famous for his leadership in the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)
and his involvement in the Battle of Bunker Hill
.
in the Seven Years War. He was involved in the Oswego, Montreal, Battle of Ticonderoga (1758), and West Indies campaigns.
In 1762, Major Small was promoted to captain. In 1765, he was appointed to a company of the 21st Regiment of Foot.
, the first major battle of the American Revolution.
Along with three other members of the 84th Regiment, Small was wounded in the arm by cannon fire.
John Small was instrumental in assisting John Trumbull
with his famous painting The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Major Small is at the centre of the action holding the bayonet to prevent a British soldier from killing his friend, American Patriot
Joseph Warren
(who was in reality shot through the head and instantly killed by a musket ball). The painting depicts the divisions the conflict created between people who were friends, yet were caught on opposite sides of the conflict. (Small also served with Israel Putnam
, the colonial general at Bunker Hill, during the French and Indian War
.)
, 2nd Battalion which eventually settled in the Douglas Township in Hants County, Nova Scotia
. Small is reported to have built a manor house in Selma, Nova Scotia
, called "Selmah Hall", after which the community is named.
In 1794, he became Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey
and promoted to major general
.
84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)
The 84th Regiment of Foot was a British regiment in the American Revolutionary War that was raised to defend present day Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada from the constant land and sea attacks by American Revolutionaries...
and his involvement in the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
.
Seven Years War
In 1756, Major Small served in the 42nd Regiment of Foot42nd Regiment of Foot
The 42nd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Originally the 43rd Highlanders they were renumbered the 42nd in 1748.- Early history :...
in the Seven Years War. He was involved in the Oswego, Montreal, Battle of Ticonderoga (1758), and West Indies campaigns.
In 1762, Major Small was promoted to captain. In 1765, he was appointed to a company of the 21st Regiment of Foot.
American Revolution
Small served with the 21st in America until 1775 when he received an unofficial commission from General Gage to raise the Young Royal Highlanders at his own expense which was later amalgamated into the Royal Highland Emigrants (84th Regiment of Foot). Small spent the greatest part of his time in New York on staff duty.Battle of Bunker Hill, Boston
Major John Small was engaged to establish the Royal Highland Emigrants on 13 June 1775. About a week later, Small and a number of other members of the Regiment were in the Battle of Bunker HillBattle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
, the first major battle of the American Revolution.
Along with three other members of the 84th Regiment, Small was wounded in the arm by cannon fire.
John Trumbull
John Trumbull was an American artist during the period of the American Revolutionary War and was notable for his historical paintings...
with his famous painting The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Major Small is at the centre of the action holding the bayonet to prevent a British soldier from killing his friend, American Patriot
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
Joseph Warren
Joseph Warren
Dr. Joseph Warren was an American doctor who played a leading role in American Patriot organizations in Boston in early days of the American Revolution, eventually serving as president of the revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress...
(who was in reality shot through the head and instantly killed by a musket ball). The painting depicts the divisions the conflict created between people who were friends, yet were caught on opposite sides of the conflict. (Small also served with Israel Putnam
Israel Putnam
Israel Putnam was an American army general and Freemason who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War...
, the colonial general at Bunker Hill, during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
.)
84th Highland Regiment of Foot
Small was commander of the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)
The 84th Regiment of Foot was a British regiment in the American Revolutionary War that was raised to defend present day Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada from the constant land and sea attacks by American Revolutionaries...
, 2nd Battalion which eventually settled in the Douglas Township in Hants County, Nova Scotia
Hants County, Nova Scotia
Hants County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia which was the home of Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Alden Nowlan and Noel Doiron. The county of Hants was created June 17, 1781, and consisted of the townships of Windsor, Falmouth and Newport...
. Small is reported to have built a manor house in Selma, Nova Scotia
Selma, Nova Scotia
Selma is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in The Municipality of the District of East Hants in Hants County.- Acadians :...
, called "Selmah Hall", after which the community is named.
In 1794, he became Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey
Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey
The Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey is the representative of the British monarch in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a Crown dependency of the British Crown. The role of the Lieutenant Governor is to act as the de facto head of state in Guernsey and as liaison between the governments of Guernsey and the...
and promoted to major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.