17 Facts About Frederick Haldimand

Frederick Haldimand was the second of four sons of Francois Louis Haldimand, a notary and civil servant, and Marie-Madeleine de Treytorrens.

Frederick Haldimand's grandfather, Gaspard Haldimand, was a cooper who moved from Thun to Yverdon in 1671.

Frederick Haldimand received only a limited education and became interested in the military at an early age.

In 1740, Frederick Haldimand joined the Prussian Army as a mercenary.

Frederick Haldimand next joined the Swiss Guards of the Dutch States Army in 1748, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1750.

When Prideaux was killed early during the Battle of Fort Niagara, Frederick Haldimand went to assume command of the operation, but William Johnson, the Indian agent on the expedition who took over, refused to relinquish control.

Frederick Haldimand returned to Oswego, where he remained throughout the winter.

Frederick Haldimand was given the responsibility for working with the outgoing French leadership as they prepared to depart for France, serving first under Amherst and then under General Thomas Gage.

At Trois-Rivieres, he oversaw the development of the ironworks at nearby Saint Maurice and arranged for his nephew Peter Frederick Haldimand to serve under James Murray, the military governor of Quebec City.

In 1764, the province of Quebec was turned over to a civil administration, and Frederick Haldimand's role was reduced to that of a troop commander.

Frederick Haldimand traveled to New York with the intention of returning to Europe, but the death of his friend Bouquet led to his promotion to brigadier general and assignment to Bouquet's post as military head of the Southern Department, with responsibility for military affairs in East and West Florida.

Frederick Haldimand remained in this post, which he characterized as "the most disagreeable" of his life, until 1773.

Frederick Haldimand was promoted to colonel commandant of the Royal American in 1772, and received a pro forma promotion to major general later that year.

Frederick Haldimand became Governor of the Province of Quebec in 1778, and served through the American Revolution.

The negotiations had reached the point that Frederick Haldimand believed Vermont was almost ready to admit British troops when news of the surrender at Yorktown arrived.

Frederick Haldimand created and preserved a great deal of written correspondence, especially during his time in North America.

Frederick Haldimand has been memorialized with several place names in North America:.