Hamilton, Henry, -1796

Hamilton (1734?-1796) was a British army officer in the American Revolutionary War. He was also Lieutenant-Governor and Governor of Detroit, Quebec, Bermuda, and Dominica.

From the description of Henry Hamilton papers, 1768-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612696380

Henry Hamilton (1734?-1796) was a British army officer in the American Revolutionary War. He was also Lieutenant-Governor and Governor of Detroit, Quebec, Bermuda, and Dominica.

From the description of Henry Hamiton drawings of North American scenes and Native Americans, ca. 1769-1784. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612193582

Hamilton served in Wolfe's command, 1758; as Lt. Gov. of Detroit, 1775-1779; Lt. Gov. of Quebec, 1782-1779; Governor ad interim of Quebec, 1782-1784; Governor of Bermuda, 1787-1794 or 1795; and Governor of Dominica, 1795-1796. Simcoe served as the first Lt. Gov. of Upper Canada, 1791-1796. Alexander Macomb was Revolutionary War General and general commander of the miltary for the district of Detroit. William Macomb served as a member of the Assembly of Upper Canada and owned Belle Isle and Grosse Isle (Mich.).

From the description of Correspondence, 1793. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 42516231

Born in Ireland; came to America as a soldier in the French & Indian war, ca. 1755; was in the West Indies, 1761-1763; lieut. gov. at Detroit, 1775-1778; went to England, then returned to Quebec as lieut. government, 1782-1785; governor of the Bermudas, 1790-1796; died there, 1796.

From the description of Henry Hamilton papers, 1776-1778. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 384025648

Hamilton's father was Henry Hamilton (1692-1743), MP for Donegal, County Cork, Ireland. Henry Hamilton was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1734? as the fourth of seven children. He spent his youth in Cork and was commissioned into the 15th Regiment of Foot in the British Army. He earned distinction in the British victories at the battles of Louisburg and Quebec in the French and Indian War.

Hamilton was the British Lieutenant-Governor at Detroit from 1775-1778 and was the man responsible for implementing British Indian policy in the Old Northwest during the American Revolution. He was called the "Hair-Buyer General" by his adversary George Rogers Clark, referring to Hamilton's alleged practice of offering bounties for American scalps, but many historians have since dispelled much of this legend. In August of 1778, Hamilton learned that the Virginians under Colonel George Rogers Clark were descending the Ohio River to invade Illinois country to occupy posts there, including Vincennes on the Wabash River. Hamilton mounted an expedition to counterattack and drive the Virginians from Vincennes. He set out in September and October via the Maumee and Wabash Rivers but by February 1779 Clark retook Vincennes and took Hamilton prisoner. Hamilton was taken by the Americans to Williamsburg, Virginia and held in jail until parole was arranged in October of 1780. He was then taken to New York where he was exchanged for an American prisoner in March of 1781 and he arrived in London in June.

Hamilton was sent back to Quebec from 1782 to 1785 as Lieutenant-Governor and later Deputy-Governor. He was Lieutenant-Governor, then Governor of Bermuda from 1785-1794, and Governor of the Dominica from 1794-1796. In March of 1795, at the age of 61, Hamilton married Elizabeth Lee (25 years old), daughter of Colonel Lee of Banbury, Oxfordshire. They had only one child, Mary Anne Pierpoint Hamilton, who died unmarried on 1871 Dec. 12. Hamilton died in 1796 at Antigua while still holding office.

Hamilton's older brother was Sackville Hamilton, a Privy Councillor and Chief Secretary for Ireland. It was this brother's great-granddaughter, Mrs. Rice, who donated the Hamilton material to Harvard.

From the guide to the Henry Hamilton drawings of North American scenes and Native Americans, ca. 1769-1784., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

Hamilton's father was Henry Hamilton (1692-1743), MP for Donegal, County Cork, Ireland. Henry Hamilton was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1734? as the fourth of seven children. He spent his youth in Cork and was commissioned into the 15th Regiment of Foot in the British Army. He earned distinction in the British victories at the battles of Louisburg and Quebec in the French and Indian War.

Hamilton was the British Lieutenant-Governor at Detroit from 1775-1778 and was the man responsible for implementing British Indian policy in the Old Northwest during the American Revolution. He was called the "Hair-Buyer General" by his adversary George Rogers Clark, referring to Hamilton's alleged practice of offering bounties for American scalps, but many historians have since dispelled much of this legend. In August of 1778, Hamilton learned that the Virginians under Colonel George Rogers Clark were descending the Ohio River to invade Illinois country to occupy posts there, including Vincennes on the Wabash River. Hamilton mounted an expedition to counterattack and drive the Virginians from Vincennes. He set out in September and October via the Maumee and Wabash Rivers but by February 1779 Clark retook Vincennes and took Hamilton prisoner. Hamilton was taken by the Americans to Williamsburg, Virginia and held in jail until parole was arranged in October of 1780. He was then taken to New York where he was exchanged for an American prisoner in March of 1781 and he arrived in London in June.

Hamilton was sent back to Quebec from 1782 to 1785 as Lieutenant-Governor and later Deputy-Governor. He was Lieutenant-Governor, then Governor of Bermuda from 1785-1794, and Governor of Dominica from 1794-1796. In March of 1795, at the age of 61, Hamilton married Elizabeth Lee (25 years old), daughter of Colonel Lee of Banbury, Oxfordshire. They had only one child, Mary Anne Pierpoint Hamilton, who died unmarried on 1871 Dec. 12. Hamilton died in 1796 at Antigua while still holding office.

Hamilton's older brother was Sackville Hamilton, a Privy Councillor and Chief Secretary for Ireland. It was this brother's great-granddaughter, Mrs. Rice, who donated the Hamilton material to Harvard.

From the guide to the Henry Hamilton papers, 1768-1933., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)