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Brock, Sir Isaac, 1769-

Military officer; born in Guernsey, Oct. 6, 1769; entered the British army as an ensign in

Medal in memory of General Brock.

1783; saw service in Holland, and was in the attack on Copenhagen in 1801. Rising by degrees, he became a major-general, and was appointed president and administrator of the government of Upper Canada, Oct. 9, 1811. When war was declared by the United States, he took prompt measures for the defence of the province. He heard of Hill's invasion from Detroit

Monument where General Brock fell.

on July 20, 1812. He knew the weakness of Fort Malden, below Detroit, and felt anxious. The legislature was about to assemble at York (Toronto), and he could not personally conduct affairs in the west. Divided duties perplexed him. Leaving the military which he had gathered along the Niagara frontier in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Myers, he hastened to York, and, with much parade, opened the session of the legislature. His address was warmly received, but he found that either disloyalty or timidity prevailed in the legislature. Some were decidedly in favor of the americans, and most of them were lukewarm. Perceiving this, Brock prorogued the Assembly so soon as they had passed the necessary supply bills. But a change soon came. News of the seizure [405] of Mackinaw and reverses to the Americans on the Detroit frontier, together with Brock's continually confident tone in public expressions, gave the people courage, and he was enabled to write to Sir George Prevost (July 29, 1812), “The militia stationed here have volunteered their services this morning to any part of the province.” He soon led quite a large body of them, and captured Detroit (q. v.). He also personally led the troops in the battle of Queenston, where he was killed, Oct. 13, 1812. The British government caused a fine monument to be erected to his memory in St. Paul's Cathedral. London. bearing the following inscription: “Erected at the public expense to the memory of Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock, who gloriously fell on the 13th of October, Mdcccxii., in resisting an attack on Queenston, Upper Canada.” To the four surviving brothers of Brock 12.000 acres of land in Canada were given, and a pension of $1,000 a year each for life. In 1816 the Canadians struck a medal to his memory, and on the Heights of Queenston they raised a beautiful Tuscan column 135 feet in height. In the base of the monument a tomb was formed, in which the general's remains repose. They were taken to this last resting-place from Fort George on Oct. 13, 1824. A small monument marks the place where he fell.

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Sir Isaac Brock (5)
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