Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester

Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester ( born September 3, 1724 in Strabane in County Tyrone, † November 10, 1808 in Stubbings, Berkshire, England ) was a British general who served as governor of Quebec.

Life

Carlton went to the British Army in 1742 and was in 1757 lieutenant general. From 1758 he served in America. He served under General Jeffrey Amherst at the siege of Louisbourg. When Colonel Carleton was in 1759 part of James Wolfe's attack on Quebec during the battle on the Plains of Abraham in the French and Indian War.

Carleton proved from 1766 as Deputy Governor, Deputy Governor and finally as governor from 1768 as an able administrator. He promoted the 1774 Quebec Act, which led to better relations between French and British Canadians and contributed decisively to the loyalty of Canadians to the British crown during the American Revolutionary War.

When Thomas Gage gave the command of the British forces in America, the command was divided. Carlton was in command in Canada and William Howe about everything south of it. When General Carleton struck on 31 December 1775 in the Battle of Quebec the American attack at Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold at Quebec back and survived the long winter siege of the city. He was knighted for this service. He twice served as governor of the province of Québec, 1768-1778 and 1785-1795.