Robert Stobo facts for kids

Robert Stobo (born around 1726 or 1727, died 1770) was a brave soldier and explorer from Scotland who lived in America a long time ago. He was an officer in the Virginia militia, which was like a local army. During the French and Indian War, he became a prisoner-of-war at Fort Duquesne. While he was a prisoner, he secretly gathered information and acted as a spy.

Later, he was found guilty of being a spy in Quebec. Even as a prisoner there, he learned important things about the area. This knowledge was very helpful to the British army when they later captured Quebec.

Robert Stobo's Life Story

Robert Stobo was the only son of a merchant named William Stobo. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland. When his parents passed away, he was sent to the Colony of Virginia in America. He was cared for by merchants from Glasgow and worked in their store when he was young.

When he grew up, he sold the property his parents left him. He used that money to start his own business in Virginia. However, his business did not do well. Robert Stobo was a favorite of the Lieutenant-Governor of the colony, Robert Dinwiddie. Because of this, he was made a captain in the Virginia militia just before the French and Indian War began.

Captured and Spying

In 1754, after a battle called the Battle of the Great Meadows, Major George Washington had to surrender. To make sure the surrender terms were followed, Robert Stobo and Captain Jacob Van Braam were left as prisoners-of-war. They were held by Captain Coulon de Villiers at Fort Duquesne. They were supposed to be released later in a prisoner exchange.

While he was a prisoner, Robert Stobo was allowed to move around the fort. He used this chance to draw detailed maps of the fort. He also made plans for how the fort could be destroyed. In a letter with these plans, he wrote that he would do anything to help capture the fort. He believed that one hundred Native American warriors could take the fort.

He managed to get his secret sketches to the British forces. He gave them to a Lenape warrior named Keekyuscung, who smuggled them out of the fort. However, the French later found these papers after the Battle of the Monongahela.

Trial, Escape, and Help for the British

After the French found his spy plans, Robert Stobo was sent to Quebec. There, he was put on trial and found guilty of being a spy. He was sentenced to death, but his punishment was changed to being kept in a closed prison.

He managed to escape from prison! He got on a ship that was going to Halifax. From there, he rejoined the British forces at Louisburgh on Cape Breton Island. This happened shortly after General James Wolfe had left for Quebec. Robert Stobo quickly followed Wolfe and caught up with him. He was able to share important information about the area around Quebec. This included details about the best place for Wolfe's soldiers to land during the capture of Quebec.

Robert Stobo's personal stories and writings were kept in the British Museum for almost 100 years. In 1854, his writings were published in Pittsburgh. This happened partly because of the efforts of a merchant named James McHenry.

See also

• Captivity Narratives - Nova Scotia