General John Vincent (1764–1848) was the British commanding officer of the Niagara Peninsula in Upper Canada when the United States attacked in the spring of 1813. He was defeated at the Battle of Fort George but was able to rebound and establish the new lines at Burlington Heights. He directed the campaign during the summer and fall that eventually forced the Americans to abandon the Niagara area in December 1813, thanks in large part due to his victory over the Americans at the Battle of Stoney Creek. Due to illness he was replaced by General Phineas Riall, though of the several officers of the 49th Regiment who reached high command during the War of 1812, Vincent was the longest-serving of them. British and Canadian accounts of the War give the impression of a modest, well-liked and generous officer, who gave whatever help he could to other commanders. From 1814, he had held the sinecure post of Lieutenant-Governor of Dumbarton Castle.
He was born in Ireland, the son of John Vincent (1734–1779) of Mardyke, Co. Limerick, Sheriff of Limerick, by his first wife, Catherine (d.1768), daughter and co-heiress of John Love (d.1750), of Castle Saffron (later renamed Creagh Castle),[1] near Doneraile, County Cork, great grandson of Sir Philip Perceval.
Vincent entered the army as an Ensign in 1781. He transferred as a Lieutenant into the 49th Foot in 1783, becoming a Captain in 1786. He saw service with the regiment in the West Indies and was present at the taking of Haiti. After being promoted to Major in 1795, he was ordered back to England for his health, but the vessel on which he sailed was captured by a French frigate and he was detained a prisoner in France for one year. He took part in the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland in 1799 (was promoted to Lt.-Colonel in 1800), and was present at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. Two years later, the 49th were posted to Upper Canada, and Vincent was accompanied there by his nephew, William Vincent (who had married Frances Blood of Castle Fergus, Co. Clare, descended from the noted bravo and desperado Colonel Thomas Blood), who had joined the 49th in 1800. Vincent performed various garrison duties at York (Toronto), Fort George (Niagara-on-the-Lake) and Kingston, Ontario for the next ten years or so.
War of 1812
On the outbreak of war, Vincent led a detachment of the 49th from Lower Canada to Kingston, Ontario, and was commander of this post during the winter of 1812 to 1813, being promoted to brigadier general. His forces fought off one half-hearted attack by ships under the American Commodore Isaac Chauncey, and over the winter he successfully bluffed the American Commander-in-Chief, General Henry Dearborn, into thinking his forces were much larger than they actually were and deterred any attack.
Vincent was subsequently transferred to the Niagara frontier. On 27 May 1813, his positions were attacked in the Battle of Fort George. Although his British and Canadian regulars made a determined defence, Vincent realised that he was about to be outflanked and surrounded, and ordered a rapid retreat.
Vincent's forces halted at a defensive position at Burlington Heights, where Vincent received news of his promotion to major general. The pursuing American forces halted at Stoney Creek (Hamilton, Ontario). Their camp was insecure, and Vincent followed a suggestion by his second in command, Lieutenant-Colonel John Harvey, to mount a night attack. The resulting Battle of Stoney Creek was a clear British victory, badly shaking the Americans. Vincent himself took little part. He was injured when thrown from his horse in the confusion of battle and was finally found wandering in the woods, seven miles from the battle scene, in a state of confusion, convinced that the entire British force had been destroyed; his horse, hat and sword all missing.[2] Harvey, understandably, did not mention this on his report of the battle.
The Americans subsequently retreated to Fort George, and Vincent's forces maintained a blockade of them for several months. During this time Vincent's regiment, the 49th, won the nickname 'Green Tigers' from the Americans because of the fierceness of their fighting and the colour of their facings. After the British defeat at the Battle of Moraviantown, which threatened Vincent's rear, he retreated again to Burlington Heights. By this time, Vincent was ill, and was transferred first to Kingston once again, then to Montreal, before leaving for England.[2]
The Vincent neighbourhood in Hamilton is named after him. It is bounded by King Street East (north), Greenhill Avenue (south), Mount Albion (west) and Quigley Road (east). Landmarks in this neighbourhood include Greenhill Park, Laurier Park and Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School.
References
^. resources.knightfrank.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ abBailey, Thomas Melville (1981). Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol I, 1791-1875). W.L. Griffin Ltd.
Elliott, James E. (2009). Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813. Toronto: Robin Brass Studio. ISBN978-1-896941-58-5.
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This article is about the British Army officer For other uses of the name see John Vincent disambiguation General John Vincent 1764 1848 was the British commanding officer of the Niagara Peninsula in Upper Canada when the United States attacked in the spring of 1813 He was defeated at the Battle of Fort George but was able to rebound and establish the new lines at Burlington Heights He directed the campaign during the summer and fall that eventually forced the Americans to abandon the Niagara area in December 1813 thanks in large part due to his victory over the Americans at the Battle of Stoney Creek Due to illness he was replaced by General Phineas Riall though of the several officers of the 49th Regiment who reached high command during the War of 1812 Vincent was the longest serving of them British and Canadian accounts of the War give the impression of a modest well liked and generous officer who gave whatever help he could to other commanders From 1814 he had held the sinecure post of Lieutenant Governor of Dumbarton Castle Contents 1 Early life 2 War of 1812 3 Tributes 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditHe was born in Ireland the son of John Vincent 1734 1779 of Mardyke Co Limerick Sheriff of Limerick by his first wife Catherine d 1768 daughter and co heiress of John Love d 1750 of Castle Saffron later renamed Creagh Castle 1 near Doneraile County Cork great grandson of Sir Philip Perceval Vincent entered the army as an Ensign in 1781 He transferred as a Lieutenant into the 49th Foot in 1783 becoming a Captain in 1786 He saw service with the regiment in the West Indies and was present at the taking of Haiti After being promoted to Major in 1795 he was ordered back to England for his health but the vessel on which he sailed was captured by a French frigate and he was detained a prisoner in France for one year He took part in the Anglo Russian invasion of Holland in 1799 was promoted to Lt Colonel in 1800 and was present at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker Two years later the 49th were posted to Upper Canada and Vincent was accompanied there by his nephew William Vincent who had married Frances Blood of Castle Fergus Co Clare descended from the noted bravo and desperado Colonel Thomas Blood who had joined the 49th in 1800 Vincent performed various garrison duties at York Toronto Fort George Niagara on the Lake and Kingston Ontario for the next ten years or so War of 1812 EditOn the outbreak of war Vincent led a detachment of the 49th from Lower Canada to Kingston Ontario and was commander of this post during the winter of 1812 to 1813 being promoted to brigadier general His forces fought off one half hearted attack by ships under the American Commodore Isaac Chauncey and over the winter he successfully bluffed the American Commander in Chief General Henry Dearborn into thinking his forces were much larger than they actually were and deterred any attack Vincent was subsequently transferred to the Niagara frontier On 27 May 1813 his positions were attacked in the Battle of Fort George Although his British and Canadian regulars made a determined defence Vincent realised that he was about to be outflanked and surrounded and ordered a rapid retreat Vincent s forces halted at a defensive position at Burlington Heights where Vincent received news of his promotion to major general The pursuing American forces halted at Stoney Creek Hamilton Ontario Their camp was insecure and Vincent followed a suggestion by his second in command Lieutenant Colonel John Harvey to mount a night attack The resulting Battle of Stoney Creek was a clear British victory badly shaking the Americans Vincent himself took little part He was injured when thrown from his horse in the confusion of battle and was finally found wandering in the woods seven miles from the battle scene in a state of confusion convinced that the entire British force had been destroyed his horse hat and sword all missing 2 Harvey understandably did not mention this on his report of the battle The Americans subsequently retreated to Fort George and Vincent s forces maintained a blockade of them for several months During this time Vincent s regiment the 49th won the nickname Green Tigers from the Americans because of the fierceness of their fighting and the colour of their facings After the British defeat at the Battle of Moraviantown which threatened Vincent s rear he retreated again to Burlington Heights By this time Vincent was ill and was transferred first to Kingston once again then to Montreal before leaving for England 2 He never again saw active service but was promoted Lieutenant General in 1825 and full General in 1843 He had held the sinecure post of Lieutenant Governor of Dumbarton Castle since April 1814 and became Colonel of the 69th Foot in 1836 He died unmarried in London Tributes EditThe Vincent neighbourhood in Hamilton is named after him It is bounded by King Street East north Greenhill Avenue south Mount Albion west and Quigley Road east Landmarks in this neighbourhood include Greenhill Park Laurier Park and Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School References Edit Archived copy resources knightfrank com Archived from the original on 13 July 2011 Retrieved 12 January 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link a b Bailey Thomas Melville 1981 Dictionary of Hamilton Biography Vol I 1791 1875 W L Griffin Ltd Elliott James E 2009 Strange Fatality The Battle of Stoney Creek 1813 Toronto Robin Brass Studio ISBN 978 1 896941 58 5 MapArt Golden Horseshoe Atlas Page 648 Grids J19 J20 page 658 Grids K19 K20External links EditBiography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography OnlineMilitary officesPreceded bySir John Hamilton 1st Baronet of Woodbrook Colonel of the 69th South Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot1836 1848 Succeeded bySir Ralph Darling Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Vincent British Army officer amp oldid 1092301595, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
