Andrew Bulger
Encyclopedia
Andrew Bulger was a soldier and administrator, born in Newfoundland.
In 1804 he joined the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles as Ensign. On the outbreak of the War of 1812
, a substantial detachment from the regiment was sent to Upper Canada
to serve as marines on armed vessels on the Great Lakes. With this contingent, Bulger saw action at the Battle of Detroit and Battle of Stoney Creek
, and on the Saint Lawrence
.
Late in 1813, he was appointed Adjutant to Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall
, newly appointed commander of the post at Fort Mackinac
. Leading a party of the Royal Newfoundland, he was slightly wounded in the Engagement on Lake Huron
in which two American gunboats were captured, saving the British post from blockade and starvation.
He was subsequently appointed to command the post at Fort McKay, at Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin
. He faced a hard winter, in which he had to contend with lack of supplies, mutinous troops, difficulties with Indian
allies and a quarrel with the Indian Department representative, Robert Dickson
. He nevertheless remained in charge until news arrived of the Treaty of Ghent
, which ended the war.
After the war, on the recommendation of Gordon Drummond
, temporarily Governor General of Canada, Bulger was appointed Secretary for the Red River Settlement
, taking up the post in 1822. He quickly found the post unappealing. He quarrelled with the local representatives of the Hudson's Bay Company
, who monopolised the fur trade and supplies in the colony. Eventually his stand was vindicated.
He left the colony in 1823, in poor health. He subsequently served for many years as clerk to the office of Military Secretary
in Quebec and later in Montreal.
In 1804 he joined the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles as Ensign. On the outbreak of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, a substantial detachment from the regiment was sent to Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
to serve as marines on armed vessels on the Great Lakes. With this contingent, Bulger saw action at the Battle of Detroit and Battle of Stoney Creek
Battle of Stoney Creek
The Battle of Stoney Creek was fought on 6 June 1813 during the War of 1812 near present day Stoney Creek, Ontario. British units made a night attack on an American encampment...
, and on the Saint Lawrence
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
.
Late in 1813, he was appointed Adjutant to Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall
Robert McDouall
Major-General Robert McDouall was a Scottish-born officer in the British Army, who saw much action during the Napoleonic Wars and the Anglo-American War of 1812...
, newly appointed commander of the post at Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac is a former American military outpost garrisoned from the late 18th century to the late 19th century near Michilimackinac, Michigan, on Mackinac Island...
. Leading a party of the Royal Newfoundland, he was slightly wounded in the Engagement on Lake Huron
Engagement on Lake Huron
The series of minor Engagements on Lake Huron left the British in control of the lake and thus of the Old Northwest for the latter stages of the War of 1812.-Background:...
in which two American gunboats were captured, saving the British post from blockade and starvation.
He was subsequently appointed to command the post at Fort McKay, at Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He faced a hard winter, in which he had to contend with lack of supplies, mutinous troops, difficulties with Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
allies and a quarrel with the Indian Department representative, Robert Dickson
Robert Dickson (fur trader)
Robert Dickson was a fur trader, and later an agent for the Indian Department in Upper Canada, who played a prominent part in the War of 1812....
. He nevertheless remained in charge until news arrived of the Treaty of Ghent
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent , signed on 24 December 1814, in Ghent , was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, which ended the war.
After the war, on the recommendation of Gordon Drummond
Gordon Drummond
Sir Gordon Drummond, GCB was the first Canadian-born officer to command the military and the civil government of Canada...
, temporarily Governor General of Canada, Bulger was appointed Secretary for the Red River Settlement
Red River Colony
The Red River Colony was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk in 1811 on of land granted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company under what is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The colony along the Red River of the North was never very successful...
, taking up the post in 1822. He quickly found the post unappealing. He quarrelled with the local representatives of the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
, who monopolised the fur trade and supplies in the colony. Eventually his stand was vindicated.
He left the colony in 1823, in poor health. He subsequently served for many years as clerk to the office of Military Secretary
Military Secretary
The Military Secretary is the British Army appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the British Army. It is a senior British Army appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Major-General. The Military Secretary's...
in Quebec and later in Montreal.