Thomas Skinner
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Skinner (1759 – 6 February 1818) was a British
military engineer born in England at Berwick-upon-Tweed
. He died at Le Havre, France.
Skinner came to Newfoundland in 1790 as chief engineer and spent 13 years working on fortifications and other military matters. War with France, starting in 1793, depleted the St John's
garrison as they occupied the islands of Saint-Pierre
and Miquelon
. He recruited four companies, called the Royal Newfoundland Volunteers, to bolster the defence of St John's.
Skinner later recruited and took command of the Royal Newfoundland Fencible Regiment which was disbanded with the peace of 1802. In 1803, he left Newfoundland and retired a few years later. He must be recognized as having strengthened defences in Newfoundland under difficult circumstance, serving a number of governors who were often at variance with the military authorities.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military engineer born in England at Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
. He died at Le Havre, France.
Skinner came to Newfoundland in 1790 as chief engineer and spent 13 years working on fortifications and other military matters. War with France, starting in 1793, depleted the St John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
garrison as they occupied the islands of Saint-Pierre
Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
Saint-Pierre is the capital of the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. Saint-Pierre is the more populated of the two communes making up Saint Pierre and Miquelon.-Geography:...
and Miquelon
Miquelon
Miquelon may refer to*Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a territorial collectivity of France**Miquelon-Langlade, the less populous of two communes which are part of Saint Pierre and Miquelon***Miquelon, Miquelon-Langlade, the capital thereof...
. He recruited four companies, called the Royal Newfoundland Volunteers, to bolster the defence of St John's.
Skinner later recruited and took command of the Royal Newfoundland Fencible Regiment which was disbanded with the peace of 1802. In 1803, he left Newfoundland and retired a few years later. He must be recognized as having strengthened defences in Newfoundland under difficult circumstance, serving a number of governors who were often at variance with the military authorities.