John Sherbrooke

Sir John Coape Sherbrooke was a British Army officer whose career spanned late eighteenth-century imperial service, the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, and senior wartime administration in British North America. He entered the army as an ensign in the 4th Regiment of Foot in December 1780, was promoted lieutenant in December 1781, and became a captain in 1783. After the disbandment of that regiment, he obtained a company in the 33rd Regiment of Foot in 1784 and served in Nova Scotia before returning to Britain.

During the war with revolutionary France, Sherbrooke advanced to major in 1793 and lieutenant-colonel in 1794, joining the Duke of York’s army in the Low Countries in the latter year and serving through the campaign and subsequent retreat. In 1796 he embarked for India; he was promoted Colonel in the army in 1798 and took part in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799), including actions before and at Seringapatam. Persistent illness led to his return to Britain in 1800 and placement on half-pay in 1802.

With the renewal of war, Sherbrooke was appointed to command a reserve battalion in 1803, and he was promoted major-general in January 1805. He was sent to the Mediterranean later that year, serving in Sicily and holding command responsibilities at Messina; in 1807 he was associated with the Sicilian Regiment and undertook a mission to Egypt. In early 1809 he was ordered with a force intended for Cádiz, but was redirected to Lisbon and joined the main British army in Portugal. Holding local rank as lieutenant-general, he served as second in command to Sir Arthur Wellesley during the 1809 campaign, commanding the 1st Division at the passage of the Douro and the Second Battle of Porto (May 1809), and at Talavera (July 1809). He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath later in 1809. Recurrent ill health compelled him to relinquish field command and return to Britain in 1810.

In 1811 Sherbrooke was promoted substantive lieutenant-general and appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia with military command responsibilities. During the War of 1812 he directed defensive preparations and operations in the region; in 1814 he commanded the military element of the Penobscot expedition, which resulted in the British occupation of eastern Maine for the remainder of the war. He received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in January 1815.

Sherbrooke was appointed Captain General and Governor in Chief in British North America in 1816 and was sworn in at Quebec in July of that year. Failing health culminated in a paralytic stroke in February 1818, after which he resigned and returned to Britain later the same year. He was promoted general in 1825 and spent his remaining years in retirement in Nottinghamshire. He died at Calverton on 14 February 1830 and was buried at Oxton. He married Katherina Pyndar in 1811; they had no children.

Sources

• Dictionary of Canadian Biography: “SHERBROOKE, Sir JOHN COAPE”
• Wikisource: Dictionary of National Biography (1885–1900), “Sherbrooke, John Coape”
• Library and Archives Canada: “Sir John Coape Sherbrooke” (MIKAN 4310479)
• The Napoleon Series: “The British Army in Portugal and Spain” (order-of-battle material)
• Wikipedia (English): John Coape Sherbrooke