By 1812, the British Empire consisted of commonwealths, countries, kingdoms and protectorates spanning six continents. The conflict with the United States was seen as little more than a sideshow compared to greater wars, including a war against Napoleon, which threatened England directly. For most British and Canadians especially, this was an unwanted war. It was seen in Canada as the product and prerogative of rulers in a distant capital with little interest in the needs or well-being of the colonies. The people of Great Britain ignored it entirely. Indeed, many of the British commanders sent to North America perceived the assignment as a slight, preferring to fight for the homeland against the French Empire than put down American aggressors yet again to defend one of many colonies.
With all of these forces in opposition to their success, the British and Canadian forces and the Canadian homefront came to embody the pugnacious spirit of a people eager to prove their mettle as commanders in a distant land, driven to preserve their home in spite of a lack of regard from the King, and determined to drive back land-hungry and arrogant American neighbors once and for all.
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Robert Ross worked his way up through the ranks of the British Army through successes in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. He is most famous for leading the attack on Washington in retaliation for the earlier sack of York, the Canadian capital, ordering the White House and Capitol burned.
Sir George Cockburn’s most lasting impression in the War of 1812 was the critical role he played as admiral of the Royal fleet in organizing raids along the Chesapeake. He commanded raids on the towns of Havre de Grace, Hampton, and Frenchtown, as well as the sieges on Washington and Baltimore. This earned him a very bad reputation in the American press as a savage and warmonger, but hero status back in Britain.
Sir Edward Michael Pakenham was a promising young general who might have been a hero of the Napoleonic Wars if he hadn’t been killed in action, leading his countrymen in their attempt to invade New Orleans in 1815.
Laura Secord is a folk hero in Canada, the wife of a militia captain who ran miles through the woods to warn the British Army of an impending American attack near Queenston Heights.
John Graves Simcoe served as the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, from 1791 to 1796, and was significant in shaping the nation. He named many prominent Canadian natural features and towns, established the capital city of York, and was instrumental in establishing the governance of Canada, including restricting the slave trade in 1793 leading to its total abolition in 1810, a full 24 years earlier than it was established throughout the British Empire.
Charles-Michel d’Irumberry de Salaberry was born into a French Canadian military family who had served for generations. His father, Ignace-Michel-Louis-Antoine d’Irumberry de Salaberry, was a former British officer and served on the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. Following in his father’s footsteps, at the age of 14, Charles enlisted in the British army in the 44th Regiment of Foot.
Although lacking a formal education, General Sir Isaac Brock established himself as a clever and popular general. His willingness to fight alongside his troops and dedication to the defense of Canada made him an inspiring leader and a war hero for the colony, however also contributed to his untimely death at the Battle of Queenston Heights.
- Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Robert Heriot Barclay
“I trust that...the honor of His Majesty's flag has not been tarnished." These fateful words were penned to mitigate a lamented British defeat on Lake Erie on September 10, 1813; however, they also serve as a fitting epitaph to the brief, but distinguished Royal Navy career of Captain Robert Heriot Barclay.
Sir Alexander Cochrane rose quickly through the ranks throughout the Napoleonic Wars, gaining prominence as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy in North America. He was responsible for the amphibious attack on Washington and Baltimore in the War of 1812.
Sir George Prévost was the governor of Canada and commander of British troops in North America by 1811. Although influential as a leader of the British military, his greatest accomplishments were in prioritizing the unification of Canada by bringing together a population divided by language and culture, and in preparing Canada for impending war with the United States several years before war was declared.
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war of 1812 british subjects
Last updated: December 18, 2014