Born October 6, 1769, in England, Brock joined the army at the age of fifteen as an ensign. Through promotions and the purchase of commissions, the career soldier climbed to the rank of Major General, with the 49th Regiment.
Posted to Upper Canada
His desire was to serve on the battlefields of Europe, against Napoleon's army. Instead, he found himself, and his regiment, posted to Upper Canada in 1802. Over the next few years, Brock dutifully worked to improve the defences of Canada, while still longing to return to Europe. As a leader, Brock was respected by his men, earning a reputation of as a man who never asked his subordinates to do something he would not do himself.
On the eve of war with the United States, Brock doubted his few soldiers could repel an invasion, and he questioned the ability of the citizen militias. He also believed that the civilian population was indifferent, caring little about the war. Despite these misgivings, he continued to prepare. In October, 1811, Sir Francis Gore returned to England, and Brock was appointed administrator of Upper Canada.
The War Begins
The bloodless capture of Fort Mackinac by the British in July, 1812, began the war. The Americans retaliated by invading Sandwich, near Windsor. General William Hull and his troops were pushed out of Canada, however, by Britain's Native allies,retreating to the safety of Fort Detroit.
Brock traveled to Amherstburg, to personally oversee the campaign on the Detroit frontier. It was here that he met Tecumseh, his Indian ally, for the first time. The two men immediately bonded, with the Indian chief admiring Brock's aggressiveness.
"Now, this is a man", Tecumseh reportedly said of Brock.
The Capture of Fort Detroit
Brock and Tecumseh turned their attention to the fort across the river, where Hull and his men had retreated. The two allies led five hundred Native warriors, seven hundred British troops, and a few hundred militia. Some militiamen wore regular army coats, creating an illusion of greater numbers. Hull refused Brock's demand to surrender.
British artillery, located directly across the Detroit River, opened fire. The battery managed a direct hit on a blockhouse, killing four American officers. This barrage, coupled with the fear of a massacre by Brock's Indian allies, led to General Hull's decision to surrender on August 14th.
General Brock and Tecumseh together accepted Hull's surrender, raising the Union Jack over the fort. At the ceremony, Tecumseh presented Brock with a gift of a Native sash, which he continued to wear until the day of his death.
Brock's Death at Queenston
Following his victory at Detroit , Brock returned to the Niagara frontier, which he predicted this would be the location of the next American assault. On the night of September 13th, three thousand Americans ferried across the Niagara River, invading the small community of Queenston. Three hundred British defenders, supported by a cannon mounted on a nearby bluff, prevented the capture of the town. Soon, however, the American troops had captured the artillery.
Awakened by the fighting, Brock raced from Fort George. Leading his soldiers towards the captured gun, Brock was struck in the chest by a sharpshooter's bullet. His aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Colonel John MacDonnell, was also mortally wounded. Despite the loss of these officers, the British were victorious.
Isaac Brock Remembered
As a reward for his actions at Detroit, Isaac Brock was awarded a knighthood. The news, however, did not reach Brock before his death.
Isaac Brock's name continues to live on. In 1815, the Royal Navy christened a warship in his honour. The city of Brockville was named after him, as was Brock University in St. Catharines.
Sources:
The War of 1812, Land Operations, by Charles Stanley, MacMillan Canada Publishing, 1983.
The Invasion of Canada, 1812-1813, by Pierre Berton, McClelland and Stewart Limited, 1980.
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