John Clitherow
Encyclopedia
Major-General
John Clitherow (13 December 1782 – 14 October 1852) was an army officer, politician and was briefly Lieutenant Governor
of Canada West and Canada East
(1841).
He was born at Essendon, Hertfordshire
, England
in 1782. John Clitherow enlisted in the British Army
in 1799 and served in the Egyptian campaign of 1801 and in the Peninsular War
among other assignments. He arrived in British North America
in 1838 as commander of Montreal
following the Lower Canada Rebellion
.
He served as an advisor to Lord Durham
as a member of the Special Council
that administered Lower Canada
following the rebellion.
When the second rebellion broke out Clitherow commanded 3,000 regulars that marched on rebel headquarters. He also presided over courts martial that prosecuted the rebels.
In 1841, he was transferred to Canada West to command British forces there and was made governor by Lord Sydenham
. Upon becoming governor, he was succeeded as commander of the British forces by Richard Armstrong
. He prorogued the first session of the first parliament of the Province of Canada
when Sydenham died and remained acting Governor for six days until the appointment of Sir Richard Downes Jackson
as administrator.
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
John Clitherow (13 December 1782 – 14 October 1852) was an army officer, politician and was briefly Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of Canada West and Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
(1841).
He was born at Essendon, Hertfordshire
Essendon, Hertfordshire
Essendon is a Hertfordshire village and civil parish located 6 miles south-west of the town of Hertford on the B158 road.The village is 100 metres above sea level and offers views of the Lea Valley to the north. Although on an ancient site, St Mary's Church dates mainly from the 17th and 18th...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1782. John Clitherow enlisted in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1799 and served in the Egyptian campaign of 1801 and in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
among other assignments. He arrived in British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
in 1838 as commander of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
following the Lower Canada Rebellion
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
.
He served as an advisor to Lord Durham
John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham GCB, PC , also known as "Radical Jack" and commonly referred to in history texts simply as Lord Durham, was a British Whig statesman, colonial administrator, Governor General and high commissioner of British North America...
as a member of the Special Council
Special Council of Lower Canada
The Special Council of Lower Canada was an appointed body which administered Lower Canada until the Union Act of 1840 created the Province of Canada. Following the Lower Canada Rebellion, on March 27, 1838, the Constitutional Act of 1791 was suspended and both the Legislative Assembly and...
that administered Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
following the rebellion.
When the second rebellion broke out Clitherow commanded 3,000 regulars that marched on rebel headquarters. He also presided over courts martial that prosecuted the rebels.
In 1841, he was transferred to Canada West to command British forces there and was made governor by Lord Sydenham
Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham
Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham PC was a British politician and the first Governor of the united Province of Canada.-Background:...
. Upon becoming governor, he was succeeded as commander of the British forces by Richard Armstrong
Richard Armstrong (officer)
Sir Richard Armstrong KCB was an officer in the British army, and succeeded Major-General John Clitherow as commander of the British forces in Canada West....
. He prorogued the first session of the first parliament of the Province of Canada
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
when Sydenham died and remained acting Governor for six days until the appointment of Sir Richard Downes Jackson
Richard Downes Jackson
Sir Richard Downes Jackson KCB was Administrator of Canada West and Canada East until the arrival of Sir Charles Bagot who took the position of Governor General of the Province of Canada.- External links :*...
as administrator.