Brock, Sir Isaac

▪ British soldier and administrator

born Oct. 6, 1769, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands

died Oct. 13, 1812, Queenston, Upper Canada [now Ontario]

      British soldier and administrator in Canada, popularly known as the “Hero of Upper Canada” during the War of 1812 (1812, War of) against the United States.

      Brock entered the British army as an ensign in 1785. He was made lieutenant colonel of the 49th Regiment in 1797, and in 1802 he was sent to Canada, where he was promoted to colonel in 1805 and major general in 1811. In 1810 he assumed command over all troops in Upper Canada (now Ontario), and the following year he took over the civil administration of the province as well. In 1812, with the outbreak of war between Great Britain and the United States, he energetically undertook the defense of Upper Canada against invasion and organized the militia. On Aug. 15, 1812, with British and Native American troops, against great odds, he took Detroit from U.S. forces; for this achievement he was awarded a knighthood of the Order of the Bath. On October 13 his troops defeated U.S. forces at the Battle of Queenston Heights (Queenston Heights, Battle of) on the Niagara frontier, but during the battle he was mortally wounded.

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