Richard Downes Jackson

Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Downes Jackson KCB (1777 – 9 June 1845), born at Petersfield in the English county of Hampshire, was an officer in the British Army and subsequently colonial Administrator. Following service during the Napoleonic Wars, he was appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in British North America. During that time, he also served for a few months as the Administrator of the government of the Province of Canada. He died in Canada in 1845 and is buried there.

Sir Richard Downes Jackson
Born1777
Petersfield, Hampshire
Died9 June 1845
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankLieutenant-General
Commands heldNorthern District
Battles/warsPeninsular War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Military career

Jackson was commissioned as an ensign in the Coldstream Guards on 9 July 1794.[1] After seeing action during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 he took part in the Battle of Copenhagen during the Napoleonic Wars.[1] He fought at the Siege of Cádiz and the Battle of Barrosa during the Peninsular War and was knighted on 12 April 1815.[1]

After the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, Jackson was appointed deputy quartermaster general in 1820, General Officer Commanding Northern District in 1836 and Commander-in-Chief, North America in 1839,[1] a post which he held until his death in 1845.

Administrator of Province of Canada

In September 1841, Lord Sydenham, the Governor General of the Province of Canada, died in office. Jackson was appointed the Administrator of the Province. He exercised the powers of the Governor General until the arrival of Sydenham's successor, Sir Charles Bagot in early 1842.[2][3]

Death

Jackson continued as Commander-in-Chief until 1845 when, missing his family in England, he asked to be recalled. Instead, he died suddenly in the summer of 1845, shortly before the arrival of his successor, Lord Cathcart. He was buried near his country home at William-Henry, Canada East (now Sorel, Quebec).[1]

References
  1. Hillmer, Norman; Cooke, O. A. (1988). "Jackson, Richard Downes". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. VII (1836–1850) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  2. "Journals". Canada Legislative Assembly. 1842. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  3. J.O. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections in the Province of Canada, 1841 to 1860 (Quebec: St. Michel and Darveau, 1860), p. 9.
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Henry Bouverie		 GOC Northern District
1836–1839		 Succeeded by
Sir Charles Napier
Preceded by
Sir John Colborne		 Commander-in-Chief, North America
1839–1845		 Succeeded by
Earl Cathcart
Preceded by
Sir John Oswald		 Colonel of the 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment of Foot
1840–1845		 Succeeded by
Sir George Henry Frederick Berkeley
Preceded by
James Kempt		 Colonel of the 81st Regiment of Foot
1829–1840		 Succeeded by
John Waters
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