Jeffery Amherst was a British army officer and commander-in-chief born on January 29, 1717 in Sevenoaks, England. Amherst served in the War of the Austrian Succession and became the aide to General John Ligonier. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on December 25, 1745. He then became aide to the Duke of Cumberland, who was the commander of the British forces.
Amherst became the commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America and colonel-in-chief of the 60th regiment in September of 1758. He led an army against a French force at Lake Champlain, where he captured Fort Ticonderoga in July of 1759. Amherst served as the Crown Governor of Virginia in September of 1759.
On September 8, 1760, he led an army of British troops down the St. Lawrence River and captured Montreal which ended the French rule in North America. French commanders were extremely angry with Amherst because he did not give them their "hounors of war". "Hounors of war" was a ceremonial right for the defeated side of the battle to retain their flags. In recognition, he was appointed Governor-General of British North America in September of 1760, major-general on November 29,1760, and Knight of the Order of the Bath on April 11, 1761.
Amherst died on August 3, 1797 in Sevenoaks, England at the age of 80.
Amherst became the commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America and colonel-in-chief of the 60th regiment in September of 1758. He led an army against a French force at Lake Champlain, where he captured Fort Ticonderoga in July of 1759. Amherst served as the Crown Governor of Virginia in September of 1759.
On September 8, 1760, he led an army of British troops down the St. Lawrence River and captured Montreal which ended the French rule in North America. French commanders were extremely angry with Amherst because he did not give them their "hounors of war". "Hounors of war" was a ceremonial right for the defeated side of the battle to retain their flags. In recognition, he was appointed Governor-General of British North America in September of 1760, major-general on November 29,1760, and Knight of the Order of the Bath on April 11, 1761.
Amherst died on August 3, 1797 in Sevenoaks, England at the age of 80.