Military officer; born in Harbling,
England.
in 1711; was lieutenant-colonel of
Pepperell's regiment in the expedition against
Louisburg in 1745; and in September, the same year, he was made a captain of a regular regiment.
The following year he was appointed lieutenant-governor of
St. Johns, New-foundland — a sinecure place.
Braddock ordered him to accompany
Shirley to
Oswego, in 1755.
as his adjutant; and in 1756 he was charged with conveying supplies to
Oswego.
In 1757 he was appointed captain of a company in the regiment of Royal
Americans; and late in the same year he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment, and deputy quartermaster-general, with the rank of colonel.
He was quartermaster-general of
Abercrombie's forces, with the rank of colonel, in the expedition against
Ticonderoga in July, 1758; and in August he led an expedition which captured
Fort Frontenac.
Bradstreet was with
Amherst in his expedition against
Ticonderoga and
Crown Point in 1759.
In May, 1762, he was commissioned a major-general.
Pontiac's war had filled the settlements on the western frontiers with dire alarm, and they sent piteous calls for help.
In July, 1764, a little army of 1,100 men, composed chiefly of provincial battalions from
New Jersey, New York, and
Connecticut, led by
Bradstreet, reached
Fort Niagara on its way farther westward.
Bradstreet found a large concourse of Indians there, of various nations.
ready to renew friendship with the
English, and expecting presents.
The
Senecas, to placate the
English, brought in prisoners, and ratified a treaty of peace.
On his march along the southern shores of
Lake Erie,
Bradstreet was met by dusky deputations from the
Ohio country, who desire-d to have the chain of friendship brightened; and he made a treaty with the nations dwelling between
Lake Erie and the
Ohio.
He was welcomed at
Detroit with expressions of great respect and satisfaction; and from that post He sent a detachment to take possession of
Mackinaw.
On Sept. 7 the Ottawas and Chippewas met
Bradstreet in council, and, cashiering their old chiefs, the young warriors made a covenant of friendship with the
English, as brothers, and asked for peace in the name of their wives and children.
Pontiac did not appear, but was included in the treaty of peace then made.
By that treaty the
Indian country became a part of the royal domain; its tribes were bound to render aid to the
English troops; and, in return, were promised English protection.
Bradstreet died in New York City, Sept. 25, 1774.
