Edward Cornwallis: Difference between revisions
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Cornwallis participated in the [[Battle of Fontenoy]] during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] and the [[Jacobite Rising]] of 1745.<ref name=mason/> |
Cornwallis participated in the [[Battle of Fontenoy]] during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] and the [[Jacobite Rising]] of 1745.<ref name=mason/> |
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===Nova Scotia=== |
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The [[British Government]] appointed Cornwallis as [[Viceroys of Nova Scotia|Governor of Nova Scotia]] and he arrived on 21 June 1749 at Chibouctou Harbour.<ref name=mason/> [[Father Le Loutre's War]] began with the British unilaterally establishing the [[City of Halifax|Halifax]], which was a violation of an earlier treaty with the Mi'kmaq (1726) that was signed after [[Dummer's War]]. As a result, during Cornwallis' three years in Nova Scotia, Acadians and Mi'kmaq orchestrated attacks on the British at [[Isthmus of Chignecto|Chignecto]], [[Siege of Grand Pre|Grand Pre]], [[Raid on Dartmouth (1751)|Dartmouth]], [[Canso, Nova Scotia|Canso]], and Halifax. The French erected forts at present day [[Saint John, New Brunswick|Saint John]], Chignecto and [[Fort Gaspareaux|Port Elgin, New Brunswick]]. Cornwallis's forces responded by attacking the Mi'kmaq and Acadians at Mirligueche (later known as [[Lunenburg, Nova Scotia|Lunenburg]]), [[Isthmus of Chignecto|Chignecto]] and [[Battle at St. Croix|St. Croix]]. Finally, Cornwallis established forts in Acadian communities located at [[Windsor, Nova Scotia|Windsor]], [[Grand Pre, Nova Scotia|Grand Pre]] and [[Isthmus of Chignecto|Chignecto]]. |
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During the war, both the British and Mi'kmaq forces were engaged in frontier warfare or total war. Both sides killed combatants and non-combatants. While the British paid the New England Rangers for Mi'kmaq scalps, the French paid the Mi'kmaq for British scalps. <ref> The regiments of both the French and British militaries were not skilled at frontier warfare, while the Natives and Rangers were. British officers Cornwallis and Amherst both expressed dismay over the tactics of the rangers and the Mi'kmaq (See Grenier, p.152, Faragher, p. 405).</ref> Unlike the French, the British did not have a bounty on those of European decent. <ref>Plank, p. 67</ref> |
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Edward Cornwallis played an important part in the formation of Nova Scotia. |
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| ⚫ | Frontier warfare was the standard practice of warfare in North America during the colonial wars between New England and New France and their respective native allies. There has been much public attention on Cornwallis' use of frontier warfare, with little regard for the Mi'kmaq People's use of this type of warfare. <ref name=halifax>[http://www.halifaxnewsnet.ca/index.cfm?sid=277176&sc=608 Replace Cornwallis statue to honour Marshall: author] Halifax Weekly News, August 2009</ref> |
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Cornwallis is infamous for ordering a bounty on the heads of Mi'kmaq warriors, non combatant Mi'kmaq males, women and children, in retaliation for the capture of the British fort at Canso by the Mi'kmaq - after the capture the British prisoners of war were taken to Louisbourg by their Mi'kmaq captors and turned over to the French. The British colonial government was infuriated when it had to pay the French Governor ransom to have them released. To a lesser extent it was a response to an an attack at [[History of Dartmouth|Dartmouth]] by Mi’kmaq in September 1749 which resulted in the deaths of four civilians, of whom two were scalped and two were beheaded.<ref>[http://www.blupete.com/Hist/Dates/1749.htm History of Nova Scotia]</ref> This action led to further escalation of hostilities between the Mi’kmaq and the English Crown that included atrocities by both sides that did not end until the 1761 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.<ref name=halifax/> |
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==Legacy== |
==Legacy== |
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*A statue of Edward Cornwallis stands at the center of Cornwallis Park in downtown [[City of Halifax]].<ref name=halifax/> |
*A statue of Edward Cornwallis stands at the center of Cornwallis Park in downtown [[City of Halifax]].<ref name=halifax/> |
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Revision as of 06:42, 12 March 2011
Edward Cornwallis | |
|---|---|
 Edward Cornwallis | |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | Seven Years' War |
Lieutenant General Edward Cornwallis (5 March 1713 – 14 January 1776) was a British military officer who founded Halifax, Nova Scotia with 2500 settlers and later served as the Governor of Gibraltar.[1]
Early life
He was the sixth son of Charles, fourth Baron Cornwallis, and Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of the Earl of Arran.[2] The Cornwallis family possessed large estates at Culford in Suffolk and the Channel Islands.[2] A twin brother to Frederick Cornwallis, both Edward and Frederick were made royal pages at the age of 12.[2] They were enrolled at Eton school at 14, and at age 18, Edward was commissioned into the 47th Regiment of Foot in 1731.[2]
Military career
Cornwallis participated in the Battle of Fontenoy during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Jacobite Rising of 1745.[2]
Nova Scotia
The British Government appointed Cornwallis as Governor of Nova Scotia and he arrived on 21 June 1749 at Chibouctou Harbour.[2] Father Le Loutre's War began with the British unilaterally establishing the Halifax, which was a violation of an earlier treaty with the Mi'kmaq (1726) that was signed after Dummer's War. As a result, during Cornwallis' three years in Nova Scotia, Acadians and Mi'kmaq orchestrated attacks on the British at Chignecto, Grand Pre, Dartmouth, Canso, and Halifax. The French erected forts at present day Saint John, Chignecto and Port Elgin, New Brunswick. Cornwallis's forces responded by attacking the Mi'kmaq and Acadians at Mirligueche (later known as Lunenburg), Chignecto and St. Croix. Finally, Cornwallis established forts in Acadian communities located at Windsor, Grand Pre and Chignecto.
During the war, both the British and Mi'kmaq forces were engaged in frontier warfare or total war. Both sides killed combatants and non-combatants. While the British paid the New England Rangers for Mi'kmaq scalps, the French paid the Mi'kmaq for British scalps. [3] Unlike the French, the British did not have a bounty on those of European decent. [4]
Frontier warfare was the standard practice of warfare in North America during the colonial wars between New England and New France and their respective native allies. There has been much public attention on Cornwallis' use of frontier warfare, with little regard for the Mi'kmaq People's use of this type of warfare. [5]
Legacy
- A statue of Edward Cornwallis stands at the center of Cornwallis Park in downtown City of Halifax.[5]
- Cornwallis Junior High School in Halifax is named for him.
- Canadian Forces Base Cornwallis, a former Canadian Forces Base located in Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, was named in his honour.
Later career
In November 1756 Cornwallis was one of three colonels who were ordered to proceed to Gibraltar and from there embark for Minorca, which was then under siege from the French.[2] Admiral John Byng called a council of war, which involved Cornwallis, and advised the return of the fleet to Gibraltar leaving the garrison at Minorca to its fate.[2]
Cornwallis was also one of the senior officers in the September 1757 Raid on Rochefort which saw a failed amphibious descent on the French coastline.[2] Cornwallis served as the Governor of Gibraltar from June 14, 1761 to January 1776 when he died at the age of 63.[2]
His grandfather, Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis, was First Lord of the Admiralty. His nephew, Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, was a British general in the American War of Independence, and was later Governor-General of India.
References
- ^ Charlotte Gray 'The Museum Called Canada: 25 Rooms of Wonder' Random House, 2004
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mastermason.com profile of Edward Cornwallis
- ^ The regiments of both the French and British militaries were not skilled at frontier warfare, while the Natives and Rangers were. British officers Cornwallis and Amherst both expressed dismay over the tactics of the rangers and the Mi'kmaq (See Grenier, p.152, Faragher, p. 405).
- ^ Plank, p. 67
- ^ a b Replace Cornwallis statue to honour Marshall: author Halifax Weekly News, August 2009
External links
- 1713 births
- 1776 deaths
- Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia
- Governors of Gibraltar
- Old Etonians
- Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies
- British Army generals
- British Army personnel of the War of the Austrian Succession
- British Army personnel of the Jacobite Rising of 1745
- Younger sons of barons
- British Army personnel of the Seven Years' War
- King's Regiment (Liverpool) officers
- Lancashire Fusiliers officers
- National Historic Persons of Canada