Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro (sometimes spelled 'Munro') (1700–1757) was a Scottish-Irish soldier. He was an officer in the British Army
best remembered for his resolute but ultimately unsuccessful defence of Fort William Henry
in 1757 during the Seven Years' War
/ French and Indian War
and the subsequent massacre of his garrison at the hands of France’s Indian
allies. These events were made famous by James Fenimore Cooper
in his novel and then the film The Last of the Mohicans
.
, Ireland
to a Scottish military family in about 1700. George's father was Colonel George Munro of Auchinbowie
, famed for his victory at the Battle of Dunkeld
in 1689. His mother was Margarat Bruce from Scotland. George also had an older brother named Alexander and a sister called Margarat. George's grandfather was Sir Alexander Munro of Bearcrofts
.
Monro joined Otway’s Regiment, the 35th Regiment of Foot, as a Lieutenant
in 1718. He appears to have had an unremarkable military career, and by 1750 he had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Munro’s tenacious defence won him generous terms, with the articles of surrender referring to the garrison’s “honourable defence,” and Monro was able to negotiate for his troops to be allowed safe passage to Fort Edward
, about seventeen miles away. However, it was not to be. As Monro led his garrison from Fort William Henry, Montcalm’s Indian allies attacked, leaving approximately 185 dead. Monro actually survived the massacre but died suddenly just three months later, on 3 November 1757, at Albany
.
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...
best remembered for his resolute but ultimately unsuccessful defence of Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry was a British fort at the southern end of Lake George in the province of New York. It is best known as the site of notorious atrocities committed by Indians against the surrendered British and provincial troops following a successful French siege in 1757, an event which is the...
in 1757 during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
/ French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
and the subsequent massacre of his garrison at the hands of France’s 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. These events were made famous by James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
in his novel and then the film The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 is a historical novel by James Fenimore Cooper, first published in February 1826. It is the second book of the Leatherstocking Tales pentalogy and the best known...
.
Early life
Monro was born in Clonfin, County LongfordCounty Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to a Scottish military family in about 1700. George's father was Colonel George Munro of Auchinbowie
George Munro of Auchinbowie
George Munro of Auchinbowie, originally of Bearcrofts was a Scottish born military officer of the late 17th century. He was the first Munro of Auchinbowie.-Lineage:...
, famed for his victory at the Battle of Dunkeld
Battle of Dunkeld
The Battle of Dunkeld was fought between Jacobite clans supporting the deposed king James VII of Scotland and a government regiment of covenanters supporting William of Orange, King of Scotland, in the streets around Dunkeld Cathedral, Dunkeld, Scotland, on 21 August 1689 and formed part of the...
in 1689. His mother was Margarat Bruce from Scotland. George also had an older brother named Alexander and a sister called Margarat. George's grandfather was Sir Alexander Munro of Bearcrofts
Sir Alexander Munro of Bearcrofts
- Lineage :The Munro of Milntown of Milntown family descend from John Munro, 1st of Milntown, the second son of Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis . Three generations after John Munro, 1st of Miltown is George Munro 4th of Milntown who became one of the most prominent ministers in the Reformed Church...
.
Monro joined Otway’s Regiment, the 35th Regiment of Foot, as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1718. He appears to have had an unremarkable military career, and by 1750 he had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Seven Years War
In 1757, with hostilities renewed between Britain and France, Monro was placed in command of Fort William Henry with 1,500 troops. That summer the Siege of Fort William Henry took place where he was attacked by a French force and their Indian allies, totalling about 8,000 men, under the command of the Marquis de Montcalm. Effectively cut off from the main British force, commanded by General Daniel Webb, the small British garrison stood little chance once the siege started in earnest on 3 August. Monro was forced to open negotiations with Montcalm on the 9th of August.Munro’s tenacious defence won him generous terms, with the articles of surrender referring to the garrison’s “honourable defence,” and Monro was able to negotiate for his troops to be allowed safe passage to Fort Edward
Fort Edward (town), New York
Fort Edward is a town in and the county seat of Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 5,892 at the 2000 census....
, about seventeen miles away. However, it was not to be. As Monro led his garrison from Fort William Henry, Montcalm’s Indian allies attacked, leaving approximately 185 dead. Monro actually survived the massacre but died suddenly just three months later, on 3 November 1757, at Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
External links
- Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro
- Biography of Colonel George Monro.
- Col. Monro and the Siege of Fort William Henry
- Lineage of George Monro