Henry Hamilton (colonial administrator) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Hamilton
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Portrait of Governor Henry Hamilton
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| Born | c. 1734 Dublin, Ireland
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| Died | 29 September 1796 (age 62) |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Hair Buyer, Hair-buyer General |
| Occupation | soldier, army officer, governor |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Lee |
| Children | Mary Anne Pierpoint Hamilton (daughter) |
| Parent(s) | Henry Hamilton |
| Relatives | Sackville Hamilton (brother) |
Henry Hamilton (born around 1734 – died September 29, 1796) was a British officer and government official. He worked for the British Empire in North America. He served as Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Quebec. After the American Revolutionary War, he became Deputy Governor. Later, he was the Governor of Bermuda and then Governor of Dominica, where he passed away.
In 1779, during the American Revolutionary War, American rebel forces captured Hamilton. This happened at Fort Sackville in what is now Indiana. At the time, he was the Lieutenant Governor at the British outpost of Fort Detroit. He was taken to Virginia and held by Governor Thomas Jefferson's government. He was freed in a prisoner exchange in 1781 and went to London, England.
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Early Life and Family
Henry Hamilton was likely born in Dublin, Ireland. He was a younger son in his family. His father, also named Henry Hamilton, was a member of the Irish Parliament.
Henry grew up in County Cork, Ireland. His older brother, Sackville Hamilton, later became an important government official.
Military Career
Like many younger sons, Henry Hamilton joined the military. During the French and Indian War in North America, he was a Captain. This war was part of the larger Seven Years' War between Britain and France.
Hamilton's unit fought in the 1758 attack on Louisbourg. They also took part in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec. With support from Governor General Guy Carleton, Hamilton became a brigade major. In 1775, he left the British Army to start a career in government.
American Revolutionary War Role
Serving at Fort Detroit
In 1775, Henry Hamilton was appointed Lieutenant Governor. He also became the Superintendent of Indian Affairs at Fort Detroit. This fort was in the Province of Quebec. Today, this area is part of Detroit, Michigan.
Hamilton's job was to govern the Great Lakes region. When he arrived, the American Revolutionary War had already begun. He faced a difficult situation. As a civil official, he had few British soldiers. Also, many local French Canadians and American Indians did not fully support the British.
British War Policies on the Frontier
Governor Hamilton became skilled at working with Native American groups. He built good relationships with leaders of the Huron and Ottawa tribes. Hamilton was also an artist. He drew many portraits of Native Americans in Detroit. These drawings are now a valuable collection at Harvard University.
At first, British policy encouraged Native Americans to stay neutral. But in 1777, Hamilton received new orders. He was told to encourage Indian raids against American settlements. These settlements were in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky.
This policy was controversial. Hamilton and other officials knew that American Loyalists would also be harmed. Hamilton tried to reduce harm to civilians. He sent British Army officers and French-Canadian militia with the Native American war parties. However, Native American warriors followed their own customs during raids. This led to many deaths among women and children in Kentucky and western Pennsylvania. This outcome increased anti-British feelings in the region.
Capture by George Rogers Clark
In 1778, American Colonel George Rogers Clark captured several British forts. These forts were in the Illinois Country. One of them was Fort Sackville in Vincennes, Indiana.
Hamilton led a group from Detroit to recapture the fort. His small force gathered Indian warriors along the way. They entered Vincennes on December 17, 1778. They captured Fort Sackville and the American commander, Captain Leonard Helm. However, in February 1779, Colonel Clark returned. He surprised Hamilton's forces, recaptured the fort, and took Hamilton prisoner.
Prisoner in Virginia
General George Rogers Clark sent Hamilton to Williamsburg, Virginia. This was the capital of Virginia. Governor Thomas Jefferson ordered Hamilton to be jailed. Hamilton was held from June 16 to September 29, 1779.
Hamilton was offered a chance to be released. But he refused because the terms would stop him from speaking against the United States. Governor Jefferson did not release Hamilton until October 1780. This happened only after George Washington asked him to accept Hamilton's release. Hamilton was sent to New York to wait for a prisoner exchange. This exchange happened in March 1781. He then sailed to London, England.
Later Career as Governor
After the war, Henry Hamilton returned to Canada in 1782. He was appointed Lieutenant-Governor. Later, he became Deputy-Governor of the Province of Quebec. He managed the area during a time of change. The British Crown gave land to Loyalists who had lost their homes. This land was mostly in what became Upper Canada.
After a few years, Hamilton became the royal Governor of Bermuda. He served there from 1785 to 1794. He then traveled to Antigua and became Governor of Dominica. He served in Dominica from 1794 until his death in 1796. In 1795, at age 61, Hamilton married Elizabeth Lee. They had one daughter, Mary Anne Pierpoint Hamilton. She passed away in 1871 without children.
Death
Henry Hamilton died while still in office. He passed away on the island of Antigua on September 29, 1796.
Among his personal papers, Hamilton kept a journal. It covered his time as Lieutenant Governor at Fort Detroit during the American Revolution. This journal was published in 1951. It helped historians understand his role in the war.
In Popular Culture
An American author named Winston Churchill wrote a historical novel in 1904. It was called The Crossing. The book tells the story of a man's life in the American Northwest. The first part of the book describes the main character marching with George Rogers Clark. A key part of the story is the capture of Vincennes from Hamilton. The book includes details about Hamilton's actions and how people viewed him.
Images for kids
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Portrait of Governor Henry Hamilton
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Hamilton surrendering to Clark in the Siege of Fort Vincennes.
