John March (colonel) facts for kids

John March (born June 10, 1658 – died July 1712) was a person who had many different jobs in Newbury, Massachusetts. He was also a military leader, known as a colonel, in the Massachusetts Bay area. In this role, he was very active in military actions. He fought alongside the English against the French and Native American groups during two important wars: King William's War and Queen Anne's War.

John March's Early Military Actions

During a conflict called King William's War, John March took part in some key events. He was involved in the Battle of Port Royal (1690). He also joined an expedition, which was a journey for a specific purpose, to Quebec. However, this expedition did not succeed.

Challenges in Queen Anne's War

Later, during Queen Anne's War, John March faced more military challenges. He was hurt during the Northeast Coast Campaign (1703). After this, he was put in charge of the Siege of Port Royal (1707). A siege is when an army surrounds a place to try and take control of it.

This siege did not go well. One reason was that Colonel March seemed unsure about what to do as a leader. Even though his Massachusetts troops had more soldiers than the enemy, they pulled back after some attacks that didn't work. One person in his army, a chaplain named John Barnard, thought they should have attacked more strongly. The French and Native American troops were led successfully by Governor Daniel d'Auger de Subercase, who had good help from Bernard-Anselme d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin.

Questions About Leadership

After the unsuccessful siege, there were questions about John March's leadership. He faced serious inquiries about his actions. However, many other officers were also involved, so a formal military trial did not happen. It seems that John March was put into a very difficult situation. He might not have had the right training or skills to carry out the orders he was given.