Richard Montgomery (December 2, 1738 – December 31, 1775) was an Irish-born soldier who first served in the British army. He later became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and is most famous for leading the failed 1775 invasion of Canada.
Early Life
Montgomery was born in Swords, County Dublin, Ireland. His father, Thomas Montgomery, was a former British Army Officer and a representative of Irish Parliament.[2] He spent most of his childhood near Donegal, where he learned to hunt, ride, shoot and fence.[3] Thomas Montgomery made sure that Richard received a good education; he learned French, Latin, rhetoric and attended a school outside of Belfast.[4] In 1754, Montgomery enrolled in Trinity College.
Beginning in 1754, the French and Indian War began in North America. At the urging of his father and Alexander, his oldest brother who was already an established army officer, Richard made the decision to join the military in 1756.[5] Thomas purchased an ensign's commission for Richard, and Richard joined the 17th foot.[6]
Seven Years War
North America
On February 3, 1757, the British government ordered the 17th foot to march from its garrison at Galway and prepare to be deployed overseas.[7] On May 5, Montgomery and the 17th foot left Cork and arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia in early July.[8]
The British commanders began to draw up a plan to assault the French at Louisbourg.[9] The French garrison consisted of only 800 men, while the British force had 13,142 troops supported by 23 ships of the line and 13 frigates. On June 8, 1758, the attack began. Montgomery landed on the beach under heavy fire and ordered his troops to fix bayonets.[10] The outer French defenses withdrew back towards the city. Montgomery's unit and the rest of the British force chased the French back to a point just outside of the Fort's guns.[11] At this point, the British prepared to siege the city. Due to bad weather, artillery and other materials needed for the siege took several weeks to arrive onshore.[12] Montgomery had his men dig entrenchments and build breastworks. He also ordered that his men stay aware of a possibility of a French attack.[13] On July 9, the French attempted a break out, but it failed. On July 26, the French surrendered.[14] General Amherst was impressed Montgomery's action during the siege and promoted him to Lieutenant.[15]
On July 8, 1758, General Abercromby attacked Fort Carillon, but was repelled and suffered heavy losses.[16] In August, Montgomery and the 17th foot sailed to Boston, then marched to join with Abercromby's forces. On November 9, Abercromby was recalled and Amherst replaced him as commander in chief.[17] The British high command developed a three pronged attack into Canada, in which the 17th foot would assault Fort Carillon and capture Crown Point. Under the command of Amherst, the 17th foot and Montgomery combined with other units and in May 1759 traveled up the Hudson River towards the French Fort.[18] Montgomery ordered that his men remain vigilant for the French and Indian ambushing parties, and his suspicions proved correct on May 9, when 12 men from the 17th were attacked.[19] Montgomery and the 17th met stiff resistance at first.[20] Montgomery ordered that his men were not to fire at night, fearing they would shoot their comrades. Several days later, the French withdrew most of their force to Crown Point. On July 26, the French Fort was blown up as well as Crown Point, before the British could reach it.[21]
On May 15, 1760, Montgomery was appointed regimental adjutant, a position given to whom the commanding officer believed to be the most promising Lieutenant in the regiment.[22] The 17th foot set out from Crown Point in August, in the Lake Champlain division whose objective was to take Montreal with two other division heading to the city from other directions.[23] The 17th foot captured the Isle aux Noix and Fort Chambly before meeting with the other divisions outside of Montreal. The French Commander, seeing that the city could not be defended, surrendered the city without a fight. With the fall of Montreal, all of Canada fell into British hands.[24] In the summer of 1761, Montgomery and the 17th foot marched from Montreal to Staten Island.[25]
Caribbean
After conquering Canada, the British government put together a plan to defeat the French in the West Indies.[26] In November of 1761, Montgomery and the 17th set sail for Barbados, where they joined other units from North America. On January 5, 1762, the force left Barbados and headed towards the French island of Martinique. The French had received word of an impending attack and had built up their defenses. The invasion force arrived in the middle of January.[27] A beachhead was quickly established, and the main offensive began on January 24. The French outer defenses were overrun and the survivors fled to the capital, Fort Royal. The British prepared to launch an assault on the Fort, but the French Commander, seeing his situation was hopeless, surrendered his force.[28] On February 12, the entire island surrendered.[29] After the fall of Martinique, the rest of the French West Indies, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent, fell to the British without a fight.[30]
Spain entered the war in 1761 as an ally of France.[31] The British high command believed that capturing Havana would destroy the lines of communication from Spain to its colonial empire. On May 6, 1762, in reward for his actions in Martinique, Montgomery was given command of one of the ten companies of the 17th Foot and promoted to Captain.[32] On June 6, the assaulting British forces arrived seven miles off the shore of Havana. The 17th Foot, including Montgomery's company, was to capture Moro Fort, the key to the Spanish defense of the city.[33] British battleships bombarded the fort, silencing all but two Spanish guns. On July 30, Montgomery and the 17th Foot stormed and captured the fort.[34] In late August 1762, Montgomery and the 17th Foot were sent to New York where they remained for the rest of the war. The conflict was ended by the signing of the Treaty of Paris on February 10, 1763.[35]
Between the Wars
Pontiac's Rebellion
Montgomery's service in the Caribbean took a toll on his health.[36] In 1764, his family became so concerned with his health that they requested that the British government premit him to return home. Montgomery declined to leave.[37]
Angered by the French surrender, an Ottowa Chief named Pontiac organized 18 native american tribes, and revolted.[38] The Tribes captured 8 British forts and forced the evacuation of 2 more. In response, the 17th Foot and Montgomery were sent to Fort Detroit in May of 1764, where they reeinforced the garrison there. The 17th Foot proved to be instrumental in preventing the Native Tribes from taking the fort.[39] After feeling that the crisis had passed, Montgomery took his leave and returned home in 1765.[40]
Becoming a Patriot
In Britain, Montgomery, recovered his health.[41] He associated with the Whig members of Parliament, who generally supported the colonists in their demands for more political freedom. Montgomery became friends with several prmonent Whigs, among them Isaac Barre, Edmund Burke and Charles James Fox.[42] While stationed in Britain, Montgomery spent much of his time disscussing politics with these three men. Montgomery began to question the British Government's policies, and after he was passed over for Promotion in 1771 because of his Political affiliations, he sold his commision and left the military in 1772.[43]
In late 1772 or early 1773, Montgomery moved to America.[44] Montgomery promised to never marry or take up arms again and become a gentleman farmer.[45] He bought a farm at King's Bridge, 13 miles north of New York City. While adjusting to his surroundings, Montgomery met Janet Livingston, whom he had briefly met during his service in America decades before.[46] Janet was the sister of Robert R. Livingston, a prominent New Yorker who was later on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. After recieving permission from her father, Montgomery married Janet on July 24, 1773.[47]
After their marraige, Montgomery leased his farm to a tenant and moved to a small house in Rhinebeck, New York.[48] Montgomery bought some surrounding land and set to work fencing, plowing fields, building a grain mill and laying the foundation for a larger home. Montgomery said that he was "Never so happy in all my life" but followed that up by saying "This cannot last; it cannot last."[49] Three months after their marraige, Janet told Montgomery of a dream she had in which Montgmery was killed in a duel by his brother. Richard replied by saying "I have always told you that my happiness is not lasting...Let us enjoy it as long as we may and leave the rest to God."[50]
Because Montgomery was now tied together with the Livingston family, who supported the Patriot cause, he began to turn his views against the British government and began to see himself as an American instead of an Englishman.[51] Montgomery believed that the British government was being oppressive and was acting like a tyrannical parent-state.[52]
New York Provincial Congress
On May 16, 1775, Montgomery was elected as one of the ten deputies to represent Dutchess County in the New York Provincial Congress.[53] Although Montgomery had only lived in new York for two years and had not sought political involvement, he was well known and respected in the area and he felt obliged to attened.[54] He was reluctant to go, but he departed to New York City, 80 miles south of Rhinebeck.[55]
The first session began on May 22.[56] On May 26, 97 delegates, including Montgomery, signed a resolution legitimizing it's authority. Montgomery's views were that of a moderate Patriot. He believed that the British Government was wrong, but hoped for an honorable reconciliation.[57] Gradually, the faction of the Congress that remained loyal to the King lost it's influence. Some of them did not particapate on a regular basis.[58] Montgomery was selected to serve in a site selection committee to decide the placement of military defensive posistions in New York.[59] Montgomery was also involved in organizing the New York Militia and securing supplies for them. [60]
American Revolution
Montgomery preparing to invade Canada.
In 1775, although having resided in New York just three years, he was elected to the New York Provincial Congress.
Montgomery was commissioned as a brigadier general in the Continental Army on June 22, 1775 and a major general on December 9, 1775. He led an army into Canada (Invasion of Canada). Montgomery took possession of the Ile aux Noix on Lake Champlain, and with 1000 men laid siege to St. Johns and Chambly, which surrendered to him, and advanced toward Montreal, which capitulated, Nov. 12, 1775. For these victories he was promoted to Major-General in the Continental Army.
Death
While attempting to capture the city of Quebec during a fierce snow storm on 31 December 1775, Richard Montgomery suffered an ultimately fatal shot to the leg. The British recognized his body and provided him with an honorable burial. In 1818, his body was moved to New York City and interred at St. Paul's Chapel.
Legacy
Ships named after Richard Montgomery include:
Places
Richard Montgomery has several places named after him. Many counties include New Jersey, Missouri, Alabama's state capital, Montgomery, Minnesota, Arkansas, Montgomery County, Illinois[61], Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New York, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Kentucky. There is also a school, a village, and a mansion named after him.
Footnotes
- ^ Fairleigh Dickinson EDU retrieved September 1, 2008
- ^ Gabriel p.17
- ^ Gabriel p.17
- ^ Gabriel p.18
- ^ Shelton p.16
- ^ Shelton p.16
- ^ Shelton p.19
- ^ Shelton p.21
- ^ Shelton p.22
- ^ Shelton p.23
- ^ Shelton p.23
- ^ Shelton p.21
- ^ Shelton p.23
- ^ Shelton p.24
- ^ Shelton p.24
- ^ Shelton p.25
- ^ Shelton p.25
- ^ Shelton p.25
- ^ Shelton p.26
- ^ Shelton p.26
- ^ Shelton p.26
- ^ Shelton p.27
- ^ Shelton p.28
- ^ Shelton p.28
- ^ Shelton p.28
- ^ Shelton p.28
- ^ Shelton p.28
- ^ Shelton p.29
- ^ Shelton p.29
- ^ Shelton p.29
- ^ Shelton p.29
- ^ Shelton p.30
- ^ Shelton p.30
- ^ Shelton p.30
- ^ Shelton p.31
- ^ Shelton p.32
- ^ Shelton p.32
- ^ Shelton p.32
- ^ Shelton p.32
- ^ Shelton p.32
- ^ Shelton p.33
- ^ Shelton p.33
- ^ Shelton p.34
- ^ Shelton p.35
- ^ Shelton p.36
- ^ Shelton p.38
- ^ Shelton p.39
- ^ Shelton p.39
- ^ Shelton p.40
- ^ Shelton p.40
- ^ Shelton p.50
- ^ Shelton p.50
- ^ Shelton p.55
- ^ Shelton p.59
- ^ Shelton p.56
- ^ Shelton p.56
- ^ Shelton p.57
- ^ Shelton p.57
- ^ Shelton p.63
- ^ Shelton p.63
- ^ Allan H. Keith, Historical Stories: About Greenville and Bond County, IL. Consulted on August 15, 2007.
References
- Gabriel, Michael (2002). Major General Richard Montgomery. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.
- Shelton, Hal (1994). General Richard Montgomery and the American Revolution. New York: New York University Press.
External links
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