Background

Brock was born on on October 6, 1769 at St Peter Port on the Channel Island of Guernsey, the eighth son of John Brock (1729–1777), a midshipman in the Royal Navy, and Elizabeth de Lisle, daughter of Daniel de Lisle, then Lieutenant-Bailiff of Guernsey. The Brocks were an English family who had been established in Guernsey since the sixteenth century.

Education

Brock earned a reputation during his early education on Guernsey as an assiduous student, as well as an exceptional swimmer and boxer. At age ten, he was sent to school in Southampton. He also studied for one year in Rotterdam, learning French.

Despite his lack of an extensive formal education, Brock appreciated its importance. As an adult, he spent much time reading in an attempt to improve his education. He read many works on military tactics and science, but he also read ancient history and other less immediately practical topics. At the time of his death, he owned a modest library of books, including classic works by Shakespeare, Voltaire, and Samuel Johnson.

Career

Isaac Brock entered the army as an ensign in 1785. Rising by purchase according to the custom of the time, he became a lieutenant colonel in 1797, commanded his regiment in the North Holland expedition in 1799, and later fought in the naval battle of Copenhagen. Sent to Canada with his regiment in 1802, he was promoted to colonel in 1805 and commanded the garrison at Quebec until 1810. He then was placed in charge of all British troops in Upper Canada and was promoted to major general in 1811; after October of that year he was also in charge of the civil government.

Brock brought to his job military skill, magnetic personal character, and expert knowledge of the land and people. Many of the Canadian settlers were former Americans, and one of Brock's problems was keeping the loyalty of the volunteer militia. The local tribes posed another problem. Brock had to influence them against raiding the American frontier, at the same time keeping them loyal to Britain. As for the regular army, Brock wrote that although his own regiment had been in Canada for 10 years, "drinking rum without bounds, it is still respectable, and apparently ardent for an opportunity to acquire distinction. "

When the United States declared war on Great Britain in 1812, Brock organized the defense of Upper Canada. He called a special session of the legislature at York (present Toronto), and although it refused to suspend habeas corpus, it did vote supplies. After an American invasion was repelled by the newly formed militia, Brock launched a counterattack. Commanding an army of 1, 330 men, including 600 natives led by Chief Tecumseh, Brock sailed down Lake Erie to Detroit, where Gen. William Hull had an American army of 2, 500 men. Although Brock was outmanned, he did not hold his ground or retreat but in a daring move advanced on Ft. Detroit, and Hull surrendered without firing a shot.

From Detroit, Brock hurried to the Niagara frontier to repel another American invasion of Canada, but on Oct. 13, 1812, he was killed at the battle of Queenston Heights. As he fell, his last words were, "Never mind me—push on the York Volunteers. " The war continued for over 2 more years, but Upper Canada was saved for Britain because of Brock's victories at Detroit and Queenston Heights.

Achievements

• Brock's actions, particularly his success at Detroit, earned him a knighthood, membership in the Order of the Bath, accolades and the sobriquet "The Hero of Upper Canada".
  
  Canadians regard Brock as one of their greatest military heroes. He was voted #28 on the television show The Greatest Canadian, although he was not born or naturalized as a Canadian.
  
  In 1816, an unknown company issued a series of private half-penny tokens honouring Brock with the title "The Hero of Upper Canada". Private copper tokens became common in Canada due to initial distrust of "army bills", paper notes issued by Brock when there was a currency shortage caused by economic growth.
  
  Brockville and Brock in Ontario, Brock in Saskatchewan, General Isaac Brock Parkway on Highway 405 and Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, are all named in tribute to Brock. Schools named in his honour include one in Winnipeg, and public schools in Toronto, Guelph, Hamilton, London, Vancouver, and Windsor, Ontario. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate Major-General Sir Isaac Brock's role in Ontario's heritage.
  
  In September 2012, the Royal Canadian Mint issued a . 99999 pure gold coin with a face value of 350 dollars to honor the bicentenary of Brock's death. The reverse design was taken from a half-penny token issued in 1816 as a memorial to Brock. In addition, there have been quarters that have been released, one with a coloured maple leaf and the other with a frosted maple leaf.
  
  The Bathurst Street Bridge was renamed the Sir Isaac Brock Bridge by the City of Toronto at the suggestion of the Friends of Fort York.
  
  In London, he is remembered at a memorial in St Paul's Cathedral. This was paid for by £1575 voted by the House of Commons, which also granted pensions of £200 to each of his four surviving brothers. For his actions in the capture of Detroit, Brock was appointed a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath (KB) on 10 October 1812. He died at the Battle of Queenston Heights before learning of his knighthood.
  
  As a mark of esteem, the Prince Regent made a special grant to allow the heraldic supporters that would have been incorporated into his coat of arms if he had lived, to be incorporated into the arms of Brock's father's descendants, and on monuments raised in Brock's memory.
  
  A British naval vessel named in his honour, HMS Sir Isaac Brock, was destroyed at the Battle of York while under construction. The Regimental Depot of the 49th of foot (later the Royal Berkshire Regt), was established at Reading and named Brock Barracks in his memory. It is now used as a Territorial Army Centre.
  
  Brock's childhood home on High Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey still stands, and is marked with a memorial plaque. A memorial, paid for by Canada, is fitted into the side of the Town Church, the parish church of St Peter Port.
  
  Brock University in Ontario provides scholarships to Guernsey students who achieve sufficiently high grades. In 1969, the Guernsey Post Office issued postage stamps to commemorate his life and achievements.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Works of Isaac Brock

    (11 works of Isaac Brock British Army officer and administ...)

  • The Life and Correspondence of Sir Isaac Brock, K.B. Interspersed with notices of the celebrated Indian chief, Tecumseh, and comprising brief memoirs of ... Tupper, R.N., and Colonel W. De Vic Tupper

Views

Although many Canadians have come to view Brock as one of their own, Brock never really felt at home in Canada. On the whole, he viewed the country as a backwater, and earnestly wished to return to Europe to fight against Napoleon. Brock mistrusted the Canadian colonists, many of whom he suspected of being American sympathizers, and he was reluctant to arm them indiscriminately to help defend the colonies. He favoured expansion of volunteer forces which could be trained and supervised, as well as the use of British regulars and Tecumseh's warriors.

Personality

He kept a reputation as an "unusually tall, robust" man throughout his life, with an adult height of about 6 ft 2 in (188 cm). Measurements taken from his uniform show that at his death he had a waist size of 47 inches (120 cm) and the inside brim of his hat measured 24 inches (61 cm) in circumference. Brock was noted as a handsome man who enjoyed the company of women.

Connections

He never married.

Father:

John Brock

(1729–1777)

Mother:

Elizabeth de Lisle

She was the daughter of Daniel de Lisle, then Lieutenant-Bailiff of Guernsey.

References

• The good soldier;: The story of Isaac Brock, (Great stories of Canada)
• The Defended Border, Upper Canada and the War of 1812