General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, 1st Baronet (15 July 1763 – 17 July 1851) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served during the War of the Second Coalition and the War of 1812. After the death of Major General Isaac Brock at the Battle of Queenston Heights, Sheaffe became the military commander and acting Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. He was created a baronet in January 1813 in recognition of his leadership during the battle. In June 1813, Sheaffe was relieved of his civil and military responsibilities due to his decision to retreat at the Battle of York. He was recalled to England later that year. Sheaffe continued serving in the British Army and received a promotion to lieutenant general in 1821 and to full general in 1835.

Early life

Roger Hale Sheaffe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the third son and eighth child of Susannah Child (1730–1811) and William Sheaffe (1705–1771). His father was a graduate of Harvard University who became Deputy Collector of Customs at Boston.

After Sheaffe's father died in 1771, his mother took in boarders to support her children. One of the boarders was Hugh Percy, later the 2nd Duke of Northumberland, who commanded the 5th Regiment of Foot. Percy was struck by Sheaffe's leadership potential and sponsored his attendance at a military academy in London. Percy continued to be a benefactor, purchasing Sheaffe's first commission as an ensign in the 5th Foot in 1778 and a lieutenancy two years later.

Military career

Sheaffe served with the 5th Regiment in Ireland from 1781 until 1787, when it was sent to the Province of Quebec, then part of British North America. Over the next ten years, Sheaffe's postings included Quebec, Montreal, Detroit, and Fort Niagara. In 1791, Sheaffe was at Fort Niagara when the Province of Quebec was split into Upper Canada and Lower Canada. In August 1794, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe, sent Sheaffe and an escort to Sodus Point on the south shore of Lake Ontario to deliver an official protest regarding the establishment of an American settlement on Indigenous territory. Simcoe described Sheaffe as a “gentleman of great discretion, incapable of any intemperate or uncivil conduct.” In May 1795, Sheaffe purchased a captaincy in the 5th Foot, again paid for by Percy.

Sheaffe returned to Great Britain in September 1797, and three months later purchased a majority in the 84th Regiment of Foot. He subsequently transferred to the 49th Regiment of Foot as a lieutenant colonel. His immediate superior in the 49th Foot was Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Brock, who had recently assumed command of the regiment.

The 49th Foot returned to Great Britain at the end of October and garrisoned Jersey for several months beginning in July 1800. Early in 1801, the regiment was chosen to act as marines for a naval expedition against Denmark. The 49th Foot was tasked with assaulting the forts at Copenhagen, however, the outcome of the naval battle made such action unnecessary.

Sheaffe was censured by Brock for being “indiscreet and injudicious." He felt that Sheaffe was too strict in applying the rules, and criticized the harsh and contemptuous manner when he spoke to the men. Brock also faulted Sheaffe for reducing non-commissioned officers to the ranks for minor infractions. Sergeant Major James Fitzgibbon of the 49th Foot noted that Sheaffe "was the best teacher I ever knew, but he was also a martinet and a great scold."

War of 1812

Sheaffe returned to Quebec in July 1812 shortly after the United States had declared war on the United Kingdom. Sir George Prevost, the Governor General of Canada, appointed Sheaffe to take command of British troops on the Niagara frontier. Meanwhile, Prevost arranged a temporary armistice with Major General Henry Dearborn, who commanded American forces in the northeastern United States, aiming to foster potential peace negotiations. When Sheaffe arrived at Fort George in mid-August, he took things a step further by negotiating agreement with his American counterpart, Major General Stephen Van Rensselaer. The agreement prevented the forwarding of troops and supplies westward, but did little to prevent the buildup of American forces on the east side of the Niagara River. Prevost privately criticized Sheaffe for overstepping his authority but took no disciplinary action. Prevost's armistice was quickly repudiated by President James Madison and hostilities began anew.

Sheaffe arrived at Durham's Farm at mid-morning followed closely by the first of the British reinforcements from Fort George. Sheaffe had a Royal Artillery detachment advance on the village, supported by a company of the 41st Regiment of Foot under Captain William Derenzy. When the British artillery opened fire, it once again became hazardous for American boats to cross the river. Two boats were sunk, and the American six-pounders across the river were repeatedly silenced by shrapnel fire. Meanwhile, Derenzy slowly began pushing the Americans out of the village. At the same time, Mohawk warriors from the Grand River under John Norton climbed the escarpment west of the village and began harassing the Americans on the heights. Norton later wrote that they "discharged Leaden death among them" A significant number of American soldiers began to abandon their posts, unnerved by the sight of the dead and wounded, and the war cries of the Mohawk.

Sheaffe set out from Durham's Farm with roughly 650 men and marched across fields to ascend the escarpment, following the path that Norton had taken earlier. His forces then circled around to the south of the Americans. Sheaffe positioned the main body of his regulars facing the American line at a distance of about 400 yards (370 m). Two light companies of regulars, Runchey's Coloured Company, and Norton's Mohawks moved into position west of the Americans. When three companies of the 41st Foot from Chippewa arrived, Sheaffe ordered them into position on the eastern flank.

Battle of York

thumb|Detail from Arrival of American Fleet Prior to the Capture of York by [[Owen Staples. Source: Toronto Public Library]]Sheaffe succeeded Brock as Upper Canada's military commander and acting Lieutenant Governor. He took the oath of office at York on 20 October 1812, but continued to spend much of his time at Fort George. That winter, he suffered from poor health and was preoccupied with military matters. In February, Sheaffe moved from Fort George to York. He opened the legislature of Upper Canada on 25 February 1813 and prorogued it two weeks later. Several bills were passed during the brief session, including legislation that authorized the creation of an incorporated militia battalion made up of volunteers who enlisted for the duration of the war. Another bill provided annuities for disabled militiamen and for the widows and children of those killed. Most of the regulars were housed in a stockaded garrison located west of town on the east side of Garrison Creek. Sheaffe's headquarters were at Government House on the creek's west side. Further to the west was the stone-walled "grand magazine" that held about 300 barrels of gunpowder, 750 explosive shells and 40,000 musket rounds. Four artillery batteries protected the entrance to the harbour, including the Western Battery, west of Government House, which mounted two obsolete 18-pounder long guns. With 18 guns in total, the British batteries were outmatched by the 83 guns mounted on the ships of Chauncey's squadron.

thumb|left|[[Battle of York from Benson John Lossing's Pictorial Field-book of the War of 1812. Lossing incorrectly placed the garrison on the west side of the Garrison Creek.]]

Sheaffe was at Government House when the Americans began landing. He quickly dispatched Givins with the Mississauga and Ojibwe to oppose the landing while the regulars and militia assembled. The Glengarries were ordered to support Givens but, for some inexplicable reason, they followed the militia, which had been sent north to block the road running west from York. The grenadier company of the 8th Foot was sent in their place but was forced back after suffering heavy casualties. Sheaffe then advanced in column with the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles and the second company of the 8th Foot. The British formed a line at a clearing west of Government House. Sheaffe ordered the Fencibles forward. The retreating grenadiers passed through the advancing line, pursued by the Americans who now engaged the Fencibles. The Fencibles fell back under heavy fire but were rallied by Sheaffe. The entire line advanced but was once again repulsed. Sheaffe then ordered a withdrawal back to the Western Battery.

Sheaffe died at his home at 36 Melville Street on 17 July 1851, and is buried in New Calton Cemetery, beside his daughters Frances Julia and Agnes Emily. As none of his children survived him, his baronetcy died with him. His coat of arms, however, was bestowed on his deceased brother's children in perpetuity.

Family

Sheaffe married Margaret Coffin, daughter of Isabella Child and John Coffin, at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Quebec on 31 Jan 1810. Margaret was a relation of Sheaffe's mother from Boston. They had six children, all of whom predeceased their parents:

  • Frances Julia Sheaffe, b. 1811 in Canada, d. 1834 in Edinburgh and buried next to her father.
  • Agnes Isabella Sheaffe, b. 1814, d. 1814
  • Percy Sheaffe, b. 1815, d. 1834 in England.
  • Agnes Emily Sheaffe, b. 1817 in Worcester, d. 1832 in Edinburgh and buried next to her father.
  • Unnamed daughter, b. 1817, Edinburgh, d. 1816 Edinburgh
  • William Sheaffe, b. 1819 d. 14 Jan 1820 in England

Sheaffe's younger brother, William (1770–1812), and his wife Mary, died young leaving four children. Sheaffe adopted them as his own. Two of his nephews joined the British Army. One of his nephews, Lieutenant William Sheaffe, arrived in New South Wales Australia in 1824 with his wife, Rosalie, and a baby as passengers aboard a convict ship. Their two eldest children were left in the care of their great-uncle. All the Australian Sheaffes are descended from William and Rosalie.