Portrait of Sir Guy Carleton

Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, was born in Strabane, Ireland, on September 3, 1724. On May 21, 1742, he joined the British Army and gradually rose through the ranks. With James Wolfe, he participated in the Siege of Quebec where he was wounded during the battle of the Plains of Abraham. He took part in several other military campaigns before being named the second Governor and Administrator of the “Province of Quebec” in October 1768. He participated in the adoption of the Quebec Act in 1774 which allowed, among other things, a return to French civil laws and customs. He repelled the Invasion of Canada in 1775 by the newly-formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but due to much criticism, he resigned in June 1777, remaining in office until the arrival of his successor Frederick Haldimand in 1778. Carleton was named Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in North America and held this post from March 1782 to November 1783. He spent the following three years in England and then returned in April 1786 as Commander-in-Chief of the North American British colonies. The title of Baron Dorchester was created for him on August 21, 1786. From that moment on, this was his title in all official documents. On July 9, 1796, Dorchester left Canada for good. Back in England, he pursued his career as General of the Army. He died on November 10, 1808 at Stubbings House, near Maidenhead, England.