Normand MacLeod facts for kids

Normand MacLeod (born around 1731 – died 1796) was an important person in British North America. He was a British Army officer, a merchant (someone who buys and sells goods), and an official who worked with Native American tribes for the British Indian Department.

He was born on the Isle of Skye in Scotland around 1731. When he was about 16, he joined a famous army group called the Forty Second Highlanders, also known as the Black Watch Regiment. He traveled with them to places like the Netherlands and what is now Belgium.

Normand MacLeod's Military Career

By 1756, Normand MacLeod was an ensign, which is a junior officer rank. His regiment went to New York to fight in the French and Indian War. This war was a big conflict between Britain and France, with their Native American allies, over land in North America.

In 1760, MacLeod was promoted to captain lieutenant and moved to a different regiment. The next year, in 1761, he attended an important meeting called the Niagara Conference. This meeting was between Sir William Johnson, a key British official, and Pontiac, a respected leader of the Ottawa people. MacLeod heard a rumor that Pontiac was being paid by the British, which was causing some anger among other Native American groups.

Soon after, MacLeod led 120 men to deliver food and supplies to Detroit. When he returned, he took charge of the British fort at Fort Oswego, New York, located on Lake Ontario. Here, his job title was "Commissary of Indian Affairs," meaning he was in charge of managing relations with Native American tribes. He continued to work as a go-between for Sir William Johnson and the Michigan Native Americans for several years. MacLeod even sent Johnson a special bottle of oil from a lake that Native Americans believed had healing powers. He also helped make peace between the Seneca and Mississauga tribes.

Life After the War and Business Ventures

When the French and Indian War ended, the army put MacLeod on "half-pay," which meant he received half his usual salary because he was no longer on active duty. He married a woman named Cecile Robert and also joined the Masons, a social and charitable organization.

In 1774, MacLeod moved to Detroit. There, he opened a general store with 19 other investors. Three years later, he became "town major," which was like a military mayor for the town.

In 1778, he joined Henry Hamilton on a military trip to attack Vincennes, Indiana. However, MacLeod went back to Detroit before Vincennes was captured by George Rogers Clark in February 1779.

By 1782, MacLeod was still in Detroit and had one child. He bought a share in a fur trading company with a man named John Gregory. Their company was called Gregory, Macleod, and Co. Later, they invited a famous explorer, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, to buy a share in the company. By 1785, Peter Pangman and John Ross also became partners. Alexander's cousin, Roderick Mackenzie, worked as an apprentice clerk for the company. MacLeod worked in the fur trading business for several years before moving to Montreal, where he passed away in 1796.