James Chalmers (loyalist)
Encyclopedia
James Chalmers was a Loyalist
officer and pamphleteer
in the American Revolution
.
Born in Elgin, Moray
, Scotland
, Chalmers was an ambitious military strategist during the War of Independence
, but was apparently kept at arm's length by British commanders Sir William Howe and Sir Henry Clinton
.
's Common Sense
. Going under the pen name "Candidus", Chalmers attacked Paine's views as "quackery".
After conditions grew intolerable in Chestertown, Maryland
, where he lived, Chalmers accompanied the British army up the Chesapeake Bay
as it made its way to Philadelphia in August 1777. After the Battle of Brandywine
in September, the city fell to the British in early October. On October 14, Chalmers was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the First Battalion of Maryland Loyalists
. In correspondence with British commanders, he often advocated British occupation of the Eastern Shore of Maryland
but was ignored. His regiment served with little distinction. Its only military engagement was the siege of Pensacola
in 1781, where the entire regiment was captured by Spanish forces. Chalmers, however, was in British-occupied New York City at the time.
. He appears to have frequently socialized with other expatriate loyalists such as William Franklin
, the son of Benjamin Franklin
and former Royal Governor of New Jersey.
Chalmers died at his home, 12 Paradise Row, in Chelsea, London
on October 4, 1806. He was buried in the chapel near the altar of Stow Maries Church, near Chelmsford
, six days later. The inscription on the stone reads: "Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of Col. James Chalmers late of Chelsea, County of Middlesex, who departed this life Oct. 3, 1806, aged 72 years.".
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Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
officer and pamphleteer
Pamphleteer
A pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets. Pamphlets were used to broadcast the writer's opinions on an issue, for example, in order to get people to vote for their favorite politician or to articulate a particular political ideology.A famous pamphleteer...
in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Born in Elgin, Moray
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Chalmers was an ambitious military strategist during the War of Independence
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, but was apparently kept at arm's length by British commanders Sir William Howe and Sir Henry Clinton
Henry Clinton (American War of Independence)
General Sir Henry Clinton KB was a British army officer and politician, best known for his service as a general during the American War of Independence. First arriving in Boston in May 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the British Commander-in-Chief in North America...
.
American Revolution
In 1776 he authored a pamphlet entitled Plain Truth, a rebuke of Thomas PaineThomas Paine
Thomas "Tom" Paine was an English author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States...
's Common Sense
Common Sense (pamphlet)
Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It was first published anonymously on January 10, 1776, during the American Revolution. Common Sense, signed "Written by an Englishman", became an immediate success. In relation to the population of the Colonies at that time, it had the largest...
. Going under the pen name "Candidus", Chalmers attacked Paine's views as "quackery".
After conditions grew intolerable in Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,746 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. The ZIP code is 21620 and the area codes are 410 and 443...
, where he lived, Chalmers accompanied the British army up the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
as it made its way to Philadelphia in August 1777. After the Battle of Brandywine
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
in September, the city fell to the British in early October. On October 14, Chalmers was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the First Battalion of Maryland Loyalists
Maryland Loyalists Battalion
The Maryland Loyalists Battalion was a provincial regiment made up of colonial Americans, who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolutionary War.-Background:...
. In correspondence with British commanders, he often advocated British occupation of the Eastern Shore of Maryland
Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...
but was ignored. His regiment served with little distinction. Its only military engagement was the siege of Pensacola
Battle of Pensacola (1781)
The Siege of Pensacola was fought in 1781, the culmination of Spain's conquest of the British province West Florida during the American War of Independence.-Background:...
in 1781, where the entire regiment was captured by Spanish forces. Chalmers, however, was in British-occupied New York City at the time.
Final years
After the war, Chalmers settled in England and wrote another pamphlet attacking Paine's economic policies as well as a pamphlet regarding war in Santo DomingoSanto Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. He appears to have frequently socialized with other expatriate loyalists such as William Franklin
William Franklin
William Franklin was an American soldier and colonial administrator. He served as the last Colonial Governor of New Jersey. Franklin was a steadfast Loyalist throughout the American War of Independence, despite his father Benjamin Franklin's role as one of the most prominent Patriots during the...
, the son of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
and former Royal Governor of New Jersey.
Chalmers died at his home, 12 Paradise Row, in Chelsea, London
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
on October 4, 1806. He was buried in the chapel near the altar of Stow Maries Church, near Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, six days later. The inscription on the stone reads: "Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of Col. James Chalmers late of Chelsea, County of Middlesex, who departed this life Oct. 3, 1806, aged 72 years.".
Reference/Suggested reading
- New, M. Christopher, Maryland Loyalists in the American Revolution (Tidewater Publishers; Centreville, MarylandCentreville, MarylandCentreville is an incorporated town in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, United States. Incorporated in 1794, it is the county seat of Queen Anne's County. The population was 1,970 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 21617 and the area code is 410. The local telephone exchange is 758...
, 1996)
- Essex County Record Office, E.R.O. T/P 196/6 (Essex, England, UK)
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