Guy Carleton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lord Dorchester
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| Governor of the Province of Quebec | |
| In office 1768–1778 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | James Murray |
| Succeeded by | Sir Frederick Haldimand |
| Governor General of The Canadas | |
| In office 1786–1796 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | Sir Frederick Haldimand |
| Succeeded by | Robert Prescott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 200px 3 September 1724 Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland |
| Died | November 10, 1808 (aged 84) Maidenhead, Berkshire, England |
| Resting place | 200px |
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| Awards | KB |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1742 – 1796 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Commands | America Quebec The Canadas |
| Battles/wars | War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War American War of Independence |
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester (3 September 1724 – 10 November 1808), known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Anglo-Irish soldier and administrator. He twice served as Governor of the Province of Quebec, from 1768 to 1778, concurrently serving as Governor General of British North America in that time, and again from 1785 to 1795. The title Baron Dorchester was created on 21 August 1786.
He commanded British troops in the American War of Independence, first leading the defence of Quebec during the 1775 rebel invasion and the 1776 counteroffensive that drove the rebels from the province. In 1782 and 1783 he led as the commander-in-chief of all British forces in North America. In this capacity he was notable for carrying out the Crown's promise of freedom to slaves who joined the British, and he oversaw the evacuation of British forces, Loyalists and more than 3,000 freedmen from New York City in 1783 to transport them to a British colony. Toward this end, Carleton assigned Samuel Birch to create the Book of Negroes.
The military and political career of his younger brother, Thomas Carleton, was connected with his own, and Thomas served under him in the Canadas.
