Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Haldimand, KB (born François Louis Frédéric Haldimand; 11 August 1718 – 5 June 1791) was a Swiss army officer and colonial administrator best known for his service in the British Army in North America during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. From 1778 to 1786, he served as Governor of the Province of Quebec, during which time he oversaw military operations against the northern frontiers in the war, and engaged in ultimately fruitless negotiations to establish the independent Vermont Republic as a new British province. His administration of Quebec was at times harsh, with the detention of numerous political dissidents and agitators.

Early life and career

Haldimand was born in Yverdon, Vaud, Switzerland on 11 August 1718.

French and Indian War

In 1755, as the Seven Years' War, whose North American theatre is also known as the French and Indian War, was in its early stages, Haldimand and Bouquet joined a British regiment composed of German and Swiss men recruited at first from the armies of Europe, but then also from German-speaking settlers in North America. The formation of the regiment, known as the Royal American, took two years and was beset by culture clashes with the rest of the British Army. However, Haldimand and Bouquet earned the respect of the British military establishment with their dedicated professionalism.

After spending the winter in command of the forward British position at Fort Edward, he was made second in command on the 1759 expedition of John Prideaux against Fort Niagara and was placed in charge of the key supply and communication point at Oswego, New York, where he oversaw the construction of Fort Ontario.

When Prideaux was killed early during the Battle of Fort Niagara, Haldimand went to assume command of the operation, but William Johnson, the Indian agent on the expedition who took over, refused to relinquish control. Haldimand returned to Oswego, where he remained throughout the winter.

In 1762, Amherst promoted him to colonel and temporarily gave him the military governorship of Trois-Rivières while its governor, Ralph Burton, was called to serve in the Caribbean. and served through the American Revolution. Haldimand built up Quebec's defenses in reaction to repeated rumors of American plans to again invade the province and limited offensive actions to raiding parties such as the 1778 raid by Christopher Carleton and the 1780 "Burning of the Valleys" into the rebellious American colonies. As an administrator, he at times dealt harshly with political activists by arresting Fleury Mesplet and Valentin Jautard, publishers of a literary journal that often featured political commentary, and Pierre du Calvet, an agitator for judicial reforms.

  • Haldimand River in Prince Edward Island
  • Haldimand Beach (Plage Haldimand in French), Cape Haldimand (Cap Haldimand) and the unincorporated places of Haldimand East and Haldimand West, all four near the town of Gaspé, Quebec;
  • Haldimand Cliff (Falaise Haldimand) on Brion Island in the Magdalen Islands archipelago in Quebec
  • in the United States:
  • Haldimand Bay is the main harbor all boats enter to land at Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Notes

References

  • Sir Frederick Haldimand: His Influence on the Mohawk Valley
  • Mackinack Island, location of Haldimand Bay
  • The Loyalist Collection — University of New-Brunswick
  • Archives of Frederick Haldimand (Sir Frederick Halminand collection, R7255) are held at Library and Archives Canada