Background
Amherst was born into a family of lawyers He was the son of Jeffery Amherst and Elizabeth Kerril and his brothers included Field Marshal Lord Amherst and Admiral John Amherst.
Amherst was born into a family of lawyers He was the son of Jeffery Amherst and Elizabeth Kerril and his brothers included Field Marshal Lord Amherst and Admiral John Amherst.
In 1762 during the he led British forces that defeated a French expedition to Newfoundland at the Battle of Signal Hill. Amherst was commissioned as an Ensign in the First Regiment of Foot Guards in 1755. He eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in 1779.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, Amherst was instrumental in the re-capture of Saint John"s from the French in 1762 at the Battle of Signal Hill.
In 1769 he built a house in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight. He named the house and estate Street John"s, after his victory in Newfoundland.
The neighbourhood of Ryde that surrounds the house is still known by that name. He was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1778: he died while serving in that role in 1781.
The point of Saint John"s Harbour that is adjacent to Signal Hill is named "Fort Amherst", in commemoration of his great victory at Signal Hill.
12th Parliament of Great Britain. 13th Parliament of Great Britain]
In 1766 he became Member of Parliament for Hythe, and in 1768 he became Member of Parliament for Launceston until 1774.