John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton

Infobox Military Person
name=The Lord Seaton
lived=1778 - 1863


caption=John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton
nickname=
placeofbirth=Lyndhurst, Hampshire
placeofdeath=Torquay
allegiance=flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
branch=
serviceyears=1794 - 1860
rank=Field Marshal
unit=
commands=
battles=French Revolutionary Wars
Napoleonic Wars
Lower Canada Rebellion
awards=
relations=
laterwork=
Field Marshal John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton, GCB, GCMG, GCH, (February 16, 1778 – April 17, 1863), British field marshal, was born at Lyndhurst, Hampshire and educated at Christ's Hospital, London, and Winchester College.

Early service

He entered the 20th (East Devonshire Regiment) in 1794 as an ensign, winning thereafter every step in his regimental promotion without purchase.

He first saw service in the Helder expedition of 1799, and as a captain he took part in Sir Ralph Abercromby's expedition to Egypt in 1801. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Maida, and soon afterwards was brought under the notice of Sir John Moore, who obtained a majority for him and made him his military secretary. In this capacity he served through the Battle of Corunna campaign, and Sir John Moore's dying request that he should be given a lieutenant-colonelcy was at once complied with. In the summer of 1809 Lieut-Colonel Colborne was again in the Peninsula, and before taking command of the 66th Foot Regiment, he witnessed the defeat of the Spaniards at the Battle of Ocaña.

With the 66th he was present at Busaco and shared in the defence of the Lines of Torres Vedras, and next year, after temporarily commanding a brigade with distinction at the Battle of Albuera, he was appointed to command the famous 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot with which corps he is most closely identified. He led it and was very severely wounded at Ciudad Rodrigo (1812). During his recuperation he married Elizabeth Yonge of Puslinch, Devon. [ [http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/encyclopedia/SirJohnColborne-QuebecHistory.htm Sir John Colborne - Quebec History ] ] In late 1813, Colborne was placed in temporary charge of a brigade of the Light Division which he commanded in the battles of the Nivelle, Orthez and Toulouse.

At the peace he was made colonel, "aide-de-camp" to the Prince Regent and K.C.B. In 1815 Colborne and the 52nd at Waterloo played a brilliant part in the repulse of the Old Guard at the close of the day.

Canada

Promoted major-general in 1825, Colborne was soon afterwards made Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey. From 1828 to 1836 served as Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.As Lieutenant Governor, Colborne more than doubled the population of the province by initiating an organised system of immigration to bring in settlers from Britain. He also aided settlement by expanding the communication and transportation infrastructure through a campaign to build roads and bridges. In 1829, Colborne founded Upper Canada College as a school based on the elite English public school model to educate boys in preparation for becoming leaders of the colonies.

Being a member of the Family Compact, Colborne was a strong supporter of the Church of England and British traditions and an opponent of responsible government. His policies brought him into conflict with Reformers in Upper Canada and contributed to the Rebellions of 1837 during which he was made commander-in-chief of the armed forces and acting Governor General of British North America.

Colborne raised a local militia to join the same contingent of British regulars to suppress a rebel force in December 1837. He personally led the offensive at St-Eustache in Lower Canada. In Canada, he won the nickname of "le vieux brûlot" for his habit of burning down villages and houses.

Later life

For his services he was rewarded upon returning to Britain by being raised to the peerage as Baron Seaton of Seaton in Devonshire. From 1843 to 1849 he was high commissioner of the Ionian Islands. In 1854 he was promoted full general, and from 1855 to 1860 he was Commander-in-Chief, Ireland. He died at Torquay on 17 April 1863.

Also to be noted, a small town in southern Ontario, Canada is named after him, appropriately Port Colborne. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada at the time of the opening of the First Welland Canal, which runs through the city.

External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=4359 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]

References

*1911

Bibliography

* "Life" by GC Moore Smith (1906).