Richard Downes Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Richard Downes Jackson
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|---|---|
| Born | 1777 Petersfield, Hampshire |
| Died | 9 June 1845 |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands held | Northern District |
| Battles/wars | Peninsular War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Sir Richard Downes Jackson (born 1777, died 1845) was an important officer in the British Army. He was born in Petersfield, a town in Hampshire, England. After fighting in big wars like the Napoleonic Wars, he became the top commander of the British Army in North America. For a short time, he also helped lead the government of the Province of Canada. He passed away in Canada and is buried there.
Contents
A Military Leader's Journey
Richard Downes Jackson started his army career on July 9, 1794. He became an ensign, which was a junior officer rank, in a famous group called the Coldstream Guards.
Early Battles and Wars
Jackson was involved in several important conflicts:
- He saw action during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. This was a major uprising in Ireland.
- He took part in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1807. This battle was part of the larger Napoleonic Wars.
- He also fought in the Peninsular War. This war took place in Spain and Portugal. During this time, he was part of the Siege of Cádiz and the Battle of Barrosa.
For his bravery and service, he was knighted on April 12, 1815. This meant he received the title "Sir."
Leading the Army
After the Napoleonic Wars ended, Jackson continued to rise through the ranks.
- In 1820, he became a deputy quartermaster general. This role involved planning and organizing army supplies.
- By 1836, he was the General Officer Commanding the Northern District in the United Kingdom.
- In 1839, he was given a very important job: Commander-in-Chief, North America. This meant he was in charge of all British Army forces in what is now Canada. He held this position until he died in 1845.
Administrator of the Province of Canada
In September 1841, a sad event happened. Lord Sydenham, who was the Governor General of the Province of Canada, died while in office. A Governor General is like the Queen's representative and the head of the government in a colony.
Because of this, Sir Richard Downes Jackson was chosen to be the Administrator of the Province. This meant he temporarily took over the powers and duties of the Governor General. He led the government until a new Governor General, Sir Charles Bagot, arrived in early 1842.
His Final Years
Sir Richard Downes Jackson continued his role as Commander-in-Chief until 1845. He missed his family in England and had asked to return home. However, he passed away suddenly in the summer of 1845. This happened just before his replacement, Lord Cathcart, was due to arrive. He was buried near his country home in William-Henry, which is now known as Sorel, Quebec, in Canada.
