28 Facts About Robert Monckton

Lieutenant-General Robert Monckton was a British Army officer, politician and colonial administrator.

Robert Monckton had a distinguished military and political career, being second in command to General James Wolfe at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham and later being named the governor of New York.

Robert Monckton sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain between 1774 and 1782.

Robert Monckton was the second son of Elizabeth Manners and John Monckton and, like many second sons of British aristocrats, he entered military service.

Robert Monckton saw action in the War of the Austrian Succession, later staying on in Flanders after the bulk of the British Army had been recalled in 1745 to deal with the Jacobite Rebellion.

Robert Monckton rose rapidly through the ranks, eventually becoming lieutenant colonel in command of the 47th Foot in early 1752.

Robert Monckton's father died later that year and he thus inherited control of the parliamentary borough of Pontefract and had himself elected to the House of Commons.

Robert Monckton stayed in this posting for less than a year.

Robert Monckton was called to Halifax in 1753 to preside over a court martial, but was asked to stay on as a member of the colonial council.

Robert Monckton investigated thoroughly and found the source of the conflict between the German settlers and the colonial authorities to be a simple misunderstanding, and advocated forgiveness for the rebellious settlers.

Robert Monckton was named Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia later in 1755.

Robert Monckton served in this capacity for three years; twice as acting Governor of the colony.

Early in 1759, General James Wolfe chose Robert Monckton to be his second in command for the assault on Quebec.

Robert Monckton established control of the south shore of the St Lawrence River facing Quebec and was placed in charge of the artillery batteries trained on Quebec from Levis.

Robert Monckton resented this and, although severely wounded, he roused whatever strength he had to assume command of the defeated city.

Robert Monckton commanded Quebec for a month following the capitulation and demonstrated considerable concern for the conquered civilian population.

Robert Monckton eventually recovered from his wound and, in 1760, was appointed Colonel of the 17th Regiment of Foot and commander of the British forces in the southern provinces.

In 1761, Robert Monckton was promoted to the rank of major-general.

In 1762, Robert Monckton was given the command by Jeffrey Amherst of the British expeditionary force against Martinique.

The terms of capitulation of the island, modelled on the surrender of Guadeloupe in 1759 with only a few minor changes, suggest that Robert Monckton was a skilful and well-informed negotiator.

Robert Monckton had already made his arrangements for the capture of Tobago when he received orders requiring the presence of his troops for the attack on Havana, Cuba.

The capture of Martinique by Robert Monckton was of tremendous strategic importance to the British war effort as it gave the British a very valuable bargaining chip in the subsequent peace negotiations.

Robert Monckton was named Governor of the Province of New York.

Robert Monckton held this position until 1765, even though he left North America for good in 1763 to return to England.

Later, Robert Monckton became interested in becoming the British military commander of India and although he had the East India Company nomination and some royal support, he was not offered the position.

Also that year, his younger brother, Henry Robert Monckton was killed while leading the grenadiers at the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey during the evacuation of Philadelphia.

Fort Robert Monckton remains an active military establishment and currently is the home of the training section of the British Secret Intelligence Service.

Robert Monckton is generally reviled by the Acadian population of the Maritimes for his role in the deportation, but for the most part, Monckton was merely a subordinate following Governor Lawrence's directives.