One of those most revered names from the War of 1812 is that of Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock. Referred to as the “Saviour of Upper Canada,” Brock has roads, churches, universities and towns named after him — but why? Through this chronicle, we are going to delve into who Brock was and why he was so beloved in both life and death.

Amanda Gamble
Special to Niagara Now/The Lake Report

Born on Oct. 6, 1769, on the English Channel island of Guernsey, Isaac was the 11th child (out of 14) of John Brock and Elizabeth DeLisle.

Brock’s family was part of the gentry of England, which provided him with many opportunities as a young man. Brock was sent to  boarding schools in England, and to study abroad until he was old enough to join the army, with his family purchasing him a commission as an ensign in the 8th Regiment of Foot in 1784.  

Brock quickly made a name for himself within  the army, rising through the ranks through merit and the purchasing of commissions.

Prior to coming to Canada in 1802, Brock was stationed in Barbados and Jamaica, saw action at the Battle of Egmont-Op-See in Holland and met Lord Nelson while supporting the British Navy in Copenhagen.

In 1802, Brock and the 49th Regiment were sent to Canada, where he would spend the rest of his life.  

Throughout the 10 years that Brock was stationed in Canada, he continued to rise through the ranks and make a name for himself as an able and empathetic leader.

Unlike other military commanders at the time, he worked hard to ensure the men under his command were properly cared for, putting in requests to ensure that living quarters were adequate, providing his men with tools like fishing nets and muskets and establishing a garrison garden at Fort George so that they could subsidize their meager army rations. 

In 1811, Brock became a Major-General in the British Army. That same year, he also took over as the civil administrator and president of the province of Upper Canada after Sir Francis Gore returned to England.

In these roles, Brock was responsible for overseeing many new initiatives that prepared Upper Canada for war. 

• Brock made many changes to the Militia Act of 1793 to ensure that the militia was prepared to defend their homelands: he changed how often the sedentary militia trained; created flank companies  of militia that were trained like regular soldiers; and, he ensured they were properly compensated for their dedication to the Crown. 
• He authorized the creation of the Rifle Company and Troops of Horses, as well as two troops of Niagara Light Dragoons.
• He approved the creation of a Coloured Corps that was trained at Fort George. 
• Heworked hard to win the support of the Indigenous warriors. Just like with the militia, Brock worked to ensure they were compensated for their support.  
• Brock also oversaw the creation of batteries along the frontier, and worked to ensure that fortifications like Fort George were updated and prepared to defend Upper Canada. 

After war was declared on June 18, 1812, Brock moved quickly, ordering the commander of Fort St. Joseph to attack American Fort Michilmackinac, which surrendered without a shot being fired.

In August 1812, Brock fought alongside Tecumseh, leading a force of British regulars, Canadian Militia and Indigenous warriors, in a successful attack on Detroit.

For the capture of Fort Detroit, Brock was awarded a knighthood of the Order of the Bath. 

Through these bold, decisive actions, Brock showed the soldiers, their allies and civilians of Upper Canada that he was serious in protecting Upper Canada from invasion, bolstering the confidence, determination and support of those under his command. 

Amanda Gamble is the executive director of the Friends of Fort George, a non-profit, charitable organization that supports Parks Canada for the protection, preservation and interpretation of Niagara’s national historic sites.