Invasion of Canada, Embarkation of Troops, 1775

Richard Montgomery and troops on shore at Crown Point, New York, en route for invasion of Canada. Richard Montgomery (December 2, 1738 - December 31, 1775) was an Irish-American patriot. In 1756, joined the British Army to fight in the French and Indian War. After the war he was stationed at Fort Detroit during Pontiac's War, following which he returned to Britain for health reasons. In 1773, Montgomery returned to the Thirteen Colonies, married Janet Livingston, and began farming. When the American Revolutionary War broke out, Montgomery took up the Patriot cause, and was elected to the New York Provincial Congress. In 1775, he was commissioned as a brigadier general in the Continental Army. After Philip Schuyler became too ill to lead the invasion of Canada, Montgomery took over. He captured Fort St. Johns and Montreal, and then advanced to Quebec City, where he joined another force under the command of Benedict Arnold. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the revolution. On December 31, he led an attack on the city, but was killed during the battle. The British found his body and gave him an honorable burial. His remains were moved to New York City in 1818. Engraved by J.W. Evans, 1902

Picture No

12696468

Media ID

47671075

Size

4800px x 2836px (4.8MB)

Credit

LOC/Science Source/Mary Evans