Jeffrey Amherst is born to Jeffrey and Elizabeth Amherst in Sevenoaks, UK ----------------Image Source; National Gallery of Canada, Artist Joshua Reynolds, 1768. "Sir Jeffrey Amherst" https://www.gallery.ca/collection/artwork/sir-jeffrey-amherst-1717-1797
In 1735 Amherst became an ensign in the Grenadier Guards before The War of the Austrian Succession. During the war Amherst would become an aide to General John Ligonier and would end up participating in the Battle of Dettingen in June 1743. after being promoted to lieutenant in 1745 Amherst would be an aide to the Duke of Cumberland. The aftermath of The War of the Austrian Succession directly impacted military alliances that would face off in the Seven Years War. Including Jeffrey Amhersts involvement in the British fight for dominance over France -------------------- Image source (Modern Emblem of Grenadier Guards) https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/grenadier-guards/
The Seven year's war, which lasted from 1756 to 1763, was the first war to be fought across the world. Battles were held in Europe, America, India, and overseas. During this time rivals Britain and France fought each other over North American land control which would later become modern Canada and the United States. These were tensions left over from The War of The Austrian Succession in which France suffered a crippling defeat that left them vulnerable to Britain's oncoming siege of North America. France had allied themselves with some Indigenous tribes and Canadian settlers to fight against Britain, and had initially been making progress defeating the British and claiming their respective forts, until around 1758 at the battle of Louisbourg. The map provided is a look at the land division just prior to the beginning of the war -------------------------------Image Source; Canadian War Museum, https://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/gallery1/clash_e.html
Amherst's first position in the seven years' war was as a commissary to German troops that had joined the British army. Image source (Portrait of Jeffrey Amherst) https://www.amherst.edu/library/archives/holdings/Lord-Jeffery-Amherst-Research/primary-resources
Amherst commanded an expedition against Louisbourg. He forced the town to surrender on July 27th 1758. The siege of Louisbourg gave the British a major lead in naval operations, which directly led to the victory of the Siege of Quebec in 1759. This was enough to end French rule in Canada, and turn Britain into the world's leading colonial power. Image source (Capture of Louisburg) https://www.britishbattles.com/french-indian-war/battle-of-louisburg-1758/
A decisive attack on Montreal, planned and executed by Amherst, forced the french to surrender the city to the british on September 8th 1760.
Treaty of Paris goes into effect, bringing an end to the Seven Years' War. Land is distributed between mainly Britain, France, and Spain. France lost most of their hold on Canada and gave Louisiana to Spain. Britain gained control over the majority of Canada, turning them into the worlds leading colonial power, effectively ending Frances colonial power in Canada Image Source----------------------------------------- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NorthAmerica1762-83.png
The war was started due to the Amherst's various policies regarding trade towards natives in hopes that they would not be able to dissent from the British. Approximately a year before the war fully broke out Amherst ceased the exchange of gifts between the British and the surrounding Indigenous Peoples. This was taken in great offense to the Indigenous people, as they saw gift giving as a more common good practice, while Jeffrey Amherst felt they were depending on British resources too much. Rising tensions between Indigenous people and British Peoples caused the Indigenous People to rebel against the British control under the lead of Pontiac, an Odawa war chief credited for leading the uprising. Warriors from numerous tribes joined the fight in an effort to drive British soldiers and settlers out of the region. Image Source----------------------------------- "Pontiac", John Mix Stanley, https://useum.org/artwork/Pontiac-John-Mix-Stanley
Before the letters between Bouquet and Amgerst, Captain Simeon Ecuyer handed over two blankets and a handkerchief that had been previously exposed to smallpox patients. It's proven that approximately 80 Native Americans did contract and die from smallpox in the few months after the meeting, however it is unclear whether or not they contracted it from the tainted gifts, or from looted items. Image Source---------------------------- Terry R. Peters, Medical Illustrator, https://www.umass.edu/legal/derrico/amherst/drawing.jpeg
General Amherst had become increasingly anxious about the possibility of an attack. He ordered his men to kill any captured 'Indian' warriors, Amherst wrote to Bouquet on July 8th, this letter reads "Could it not be contrived to send the small pox among the disaffected tribes of Indians? We must on this occasion use every stratagem in our power to reduce them." Image Source----------------------- Scans of Jeffrey Amhersts Journals, part of the British Manuscript Project, provided by https://www.umass.edu/legal/derrico/amherst/34_41_114_fn.jpeg
Henry Bouquet was a British Colonel serving as Amhersts right hand man for the majority of the Pontiac's War. It was during the Siege of Fort Pitt that Bouquet responds to Amhersts requests to "send the small pox" His letter reads; "P.S. I will try to inocculate the Indians by means of Blankets that may fall in their hands, taking care however not to get the disease myself. As it is pity to oppose good men against them, I wish we could make use of the Spaniard's Method, and hunt them with English Dogs. Supported by Rangers, and some Light Horse, who would I think effectively extirpate or remove that Vermine." Image Source----------------------- Scans of Jeffrey Amhersts Journals, part of the British Manuscript Project, provided by https://www.umass.edu/legal/derrico/amherst/34_40_305_fn.jpeg
General Amherst approves of Colonel Henry Bouquet infecting the Indigenous people with smallpox blankets (Text Reads: "P.S. You will Do well to try to Innoculate the Indians by means of Blankets, as well as to try Every other method that can serve to Extirpate this Execrable Race. I should be very glad your Scheme for Hunting them Down by Dogs could take Effect, but England is at too great a Distance to think of that at present")
Pontiac surrenders to the British effectively ending the Pontiac war. The war was considered by many to be a defeat for the Native Americans but in reality, the war came to a draw, as the Native Americans were unsuccessful in driving away the British and the British where unable conquer the Native Americans. The Native Americans were however successful in convincing the British government to abandon Amherst's policies. After the war the British government officially recognized that indigenous people had certain rights to the land they occupied, this was known as the Native American bill of rights. This bill would however ultimately be unsuccessful in deterring British colonists and land speculators from expanding onto indigenous territories. Image Source-------------------- "Visit of Pontiac and the Indiands to Major Gladwin" Provided by, https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Pontiac%27s_Rebellion
A large island located in Lake Ontario. known to Indigenous people as Kaounesgo, later renamed by the French as Isle Tonti. John Graves Simcoe put out a proclomation on July 16th, 1792, renaming the island in honour of Jeffrey Amherst and his contributions to the British Army. Image Source------------------- https://www.umass.edu/legal/derrico/amherst/34_40_305_fn.jpeg
Fort Amherstburg built and established at the mouth of the Detroit River. utilized during the War of 1812 and later during the 1937 rebellion. Image Source ------------------------ http://www.warof1812.ca/fortambg.htm
Died 3 August 1797, Sevenoaks, England Image Source----------------------------- Portrait by Thomas Gainsborough, National Portrait Gallery, London https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeffery-Amherst-1st-Baron-Amherst
Amherstburg started as a small French colonial farming area close to the Detroit River. Over the course of almost 100 years (1796-1869), Amherstburg slowly became a small settlement and 1796 Fort Malden was established, which also brought more development to the area. A few sources recall Fort Malden may have been referred to as Fort Amherstburg early in development, which likely lead to naming the town Amherstburg. It was incorporated as a town in 1878 Image Source--------------------------- Amherstburg, 1865, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amherstburg#/media/File:I0024850.tif
Amherst college decides to drop the Lord Jeffrey mascot. This was brought on by much debate and student run anti-racism protests. Image Source -------------------------- Robert Howard, https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/26/464472457/amherst-college-drops-mascot-criticized-as-offensive
In Febuary of 2017 Montreal's mayor, Denis Coderre applied a white pine, a symbol belonging to First Nations, to the capital of Quebec's flag to provide proper credit to the original inhabitants of the territory. A step towards rebuilding the relationship between First Nations and the French-Canadian province. Image Source-----------------------------https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Montreal#/media/File:Flag_of_Montreal.svg
General Amherst High school resides in Amherstburg Ontario. Discussion begins to arise with regard to the possibility of updating the High school's name. General Amherst high school has not yet updated their name as of the present day. Image Source---------------------- https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/amherstburg-approves-location-of-new-high-school-1.3771244
Town of Amherstburg acknowledges Jeffrey Amhersts dark past. The mayor of Amherstburg strongly believes the town (and General Amherst High School) is more than the general it's named after. However some Indigenous community members believe it's a disregard of their history. Image Source---------------- https://www.amherstburg.ca/en/index.aspx
In 2018, Port la joye-Fort Amhurst was given the name "Skmaqn" by Local Mi'kmaq leaders. Skmaqn means "The waiting place" which is said to be a call back to around 1725-1758, when the location served as a meeting point where Mi'kmaq and French leaders met to renew their military alliance annually. However, the official name of the site remains a combination of all it's historical names. Officially titled "Skmaqn Port La Joye-Fort Amhurst.". Nova scotia's minister, Stephen McNeil, cautioned against the change in favor of the philosophy that removing Amhurst's name would do more historical harm than good. Others stated that naming the site with a Mi'kmaq word was an insult to their culture. Seeing as whether the site is renamed or not, it remains a token of the darkness within Canada's history with it's Indigenous peoples. Whether or not the site will be fully renamed has yet to be seen. (Image source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-skmaqn-programming-fort-amherst-historic-site-1.4759986 )
City of Montreal renames Amherst Street. Replaces it with Mohawk word Atateken meaning "Brothers and Sisters". Image Source------------------https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-amherst-atateken-1.5328561
In recent years the mistreatment of indigenous peoples in Canada has been put under heavy scrutiny. Although simply changing names isn't enough, it opens up a conversation. It shows that we at least understand our history and is a step away from the ignorance of our past. Indigenous Peoples are still greatly impacted by the effect Smallpox had on their ancestors, there is no 100% accurate record of the amount of Indigenous Peoples that died during what could be considered the first act of Bio-Terrorism. As a collective we have to realize that by stripping the honours given to figures such as Jeffrey Amherst we show that reconciliation is more important than our outdated tradition of celebrating colonists.
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