Thomas Carleton
Encyclopedia
Thomas Carleton was a British army officer who was promoted to Colonel during the American Revolutionary War
after relieving the siege of Quebec in 1776. After the war, he was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, and supervised the resettlement of Loyalists from the United States in the province. He held this position until his death.
, Co. Tyrone
, Ireland
to Christoper Carleton and his wife Catherine Ball, he was the younger brother of Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
. As part of a military family, Thomas joined the British Army
at a young age.
in the 20th Regiment of Foot and saw action with his regiment during the Seven Years' War
. After the conclusion of the Seven Years War, Thomas Carleton served as an observer during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774.
In 1776 during the American Revolutionary War
, as a lieutenant colonel, he arrived in Quebec City
with forces to relieve his brother, Sir Guy Carleton
, the Governor General of Canada
, who was besieged in the city by Continental Army
troops. With the death of Lt. Col. Patrick Gordon on July 25, 1776, Col. Carleton was promoted to command the 29th Regiment of Foot
. In 1777, Thomas Carleton's nephew Christopher Carleton
joined the 29th regiment as a major and served under his uncle's command for the rest of the war. Col. Thomas Carleton did not get along well with his new commander, Frederick Haldimand
, who replaced Guy Carleton in 1778 as Governor General of Canada, serving until 1786. Thomas Carleton returned to England
.
. Here, he helped to re-settle the many Loyalist
s leaving the United States
. Carleton would serve as Governor of New Brunswick until his death on February 2, 1817. In 1805 he departed for England and administered from there, as he never returned to the province.
Mount Carleton
, the tallest mountain in New Brunswick, is named for him.
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...
after relieving the siege of Quebec in 1776. After the war, he was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, and supervised the resettlement of Loyalists from the United States in the province. He held this position until his death.
Early life and education
Born in StrabaneStrabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
, Co. Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to Christoper Carleton and his wife Catherine Ball, he was the younger brother of Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy 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...
. As part of a military family, Thomas joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
at a young age.
Military career
In 1753, he was an ensignEnsign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 20th Regiment of Foot and saw action with his regiment during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. After the conclusion of the Seven Years War, Thomas Carleton served as an observer during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774.
In 1776 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...
, as a lieutenant colonel, he arrived in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
with forces to relieve his brother, Sir Guy Carleton
Guy 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...
, the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, who was besieged in the city by Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
troops. With the death of Lt. Col. Patrick Gordon on July 25, 1776, Col. Carleton was promoted to command the 29th Regiment of Foot
29th Regiment of Foot
The 29th Regiment of Foot was, from 1694 to 1881, an infantry regiment of the British Army. It now forms part of the Mercian Regiment.-Formation:...
. In 1777, Thomas Carleton's nephew Christopher Carleton
Christopher Carleton
Christopher Carleton was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England into a military family. Christopher's parents died at sea when he was only four years old and his uncles Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester the future Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief, North America along with Sir...
joined the 29th regiment as a major and served under his uncle's command for the rest of the war. Col. Thomas Carleton did not get along well with his new commander, Frederick Haldimand
Frederick Haldimand
Sir Frederick Haldimand, KB was a military officer best known for his service in the British Army in North America during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War...
, who replaced Guy Carleton in 1778 as Governor General of Canada, serving until 1786. Thomas Carleton returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Political career
In 1786, with his brother's recommendation, Col. Thomas Carleton was appointed as the first Lieutenant-Governor of New BrunswickNew Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. Here, he helped to re-settle the many Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
s leaving the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Carleton would serve as Governor of New Brunswick until his death on February 2, 1817. In 1805 he departed for England and administered from there, as he never returned to the province.
Mount Carleton
Mount Carleton
Mount Carleton, in Mount Carleton Provincial Park, is the highest elevation in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, and is also the highest peak in the Canadian Maritime Provinces. It is one of the highlights of the Canadian portion of the International Appalachian Trail...
, the tallest mountain in New Brunswick, is named for him.
Sources
- Godfrey, W. G. "Carleton, Thomas," Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online (2000) online edition
- The American Journals of Lt. John Enys, John EnysJohn EnysLieutenant Colonel John Enys was a British Army officer who served during the American Revolution.-Family and education:...
and Elizabeth Cometti (editor), Syracuse University Press, 1976 - Travels Through the Interior Parts of America 1776-1781 Volumes 1 and 2, Thomas Anburey, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1923
- The Burning of the Valleys, Gavin K. Watt, Dundurn Press, 1997
- Carleton's Raid, Ida H. Washington and Paul A. Washington, Cherry Tree Books, 1977