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Biography & Autobiography Historical

James FitzGibbon

Defender of Upper Canada

by (author) Ruth McKenzie

Publisher
Dundurn Press
Initial publish date
Aug 1996
Category
Historical, Pre-Confederation (to 1867), Political
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780919670716
    Publish Date
    Aug 1996
    List Price
    $19.99
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780919670709
    Publish Date
    Aug 1996
    List Price
    $12.99
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781459715639
    Publish Date
    Aug 1996
    List Price
    $7.99

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Description

James FitzGibbon, Defender of Upper Canada, is the often poignant story of a poor man’s rise to authority in the Upper Canada of the 1800s.
Born the son of a tenant farmer in Ireland, FitzGibbon’s valour as a soldier brought him to the attention of those destined for power in the Canadas. Hero of the Battle of Beaver Dams in 1813, one o the decisive battles in the War of 1812, FitzGibbon’s brilliance as tactician and negotiator was needed time and again — whether to settle Irish unrest on the Cornwall Canal, or to organize Toronto’s defence against William Lyon Mackenzie’s rebel forces in 1837.
As a public administrator, FitzGibbon’s rise was slow and disappointing. Despite holding a multitude of offices, he was continually in debt. And despite repeated petitions, FitzGibbon’s tireless military and public services went unrecognized and unrewarded. His final reward as a ceremonial knight in Windsor Castle adds a tragicomic touch to a fascinating tale.

About the author

Ottawa-based Ruth McKenzie is a freelance writer, editor, and researcher. Her work has appeared in the Canadian Geographical Journal, The Ottawa Citizen, and in Chatelaine. She is the author of Leeds and Grenville: Their First Two Hundred Years; Laura Secord: The Legend and the Lady, and Admiral Bayfield, Pioneer Nautical Surveyor.

Ruth McKenzie's profile page

Editorial Reviews

"A very readable and lively biography."

British Journal of Canadian Studies