Robert Prescott

Modern sources generally agree that Robert Prescott was born in Lancashire in 1726 or 1727. though the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography says that "on what grounds [this] is not clear." Other sources also suggest that he was the brother of Colonel William Prescott, the Dictionary of National Biography further states that "his family lost their estates owing to their opposition to the revolution of 1688." The Dictionary of Canadian Biography is correct in its claim that General Prescott was the son of Captain Richard Prescott of Major-General Charles Sybourg's Horse, now the 7th Dragoon Guards. In the will of Richard Prescott, of Hanover Street, London, proved in London on 7 April 1747, Captain Richard Prescott lists his five sons - Richard, Robert, Isaac, Arthur and William - and his four daughters - Mary, Sarah, Rebecca, and Elizabeth. When the eldest son, General Richard Prescott, died in 1788, he left legacies to his brother, General Robert Prescott (who was also an executor of his will), to his sisters, Rebecca, Sarah and Elizabeth, and to Robert's daughter, Susanna Dalton. ==Military career==

Prescott's military career is much more well documented than his early life. He enlisted in the British Army in 1745 and became an ensign in the 15th Regiment of Foot. On 22 January 1755, he reached the rank of captain in the 15th Foot. With the outbreak of the Seven Years' War, Prescott saw action in the 1757 raid on Rochefort, and in 1758, the 15th Foot sailed for North America to participate in the French and Indian War, an ongoing conflict which had become the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War. Prescott was present at the 1758 Siege of Louisbourg. He became an aide-de-camp to General Jeffery Amherst in 1759, participating in the Montreal campaign. Afterward he served under General James Wolfe. Prescott reappears in the military record with the outbreak of the American War of Independence in 1775. With the situation in the American colonies worsening for the British government, a number of units were mustered to be sent there. On 8 September 1775, he became lieutenant-colonel of the 28th Regiment of Foot, which had participated in the Montreal campaign during the French and Indian War. The regiment was sent to North America in May 1776. Later that year, in August, Prescott was present at the Battle of Long Island, after which the British captured New York City and Long Island from the Patriot forces. He also participated in several engagements in Westchester County, followed by the Battle of Fort Washington in November. He became a brevet-colonel on 29 August 1777. He was attached to the British expedition against Philadelphia, and two weeks later, on 11 September, he was present at the Battle of Brandywine, which was followed by the city's capture by the British. ==Administrative career and death==

Prescott then served in the West Indies and became Governor of Martinique in 1794. In 1796, he became governor-in-chief of the Canadas, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as Commander-in-Chief, North America. In his new position, he pursued a programme of improvements to military fortifications and infrastructure, which he found to be dilapidated and unsuitable for defense against external enemies, but was hampered by financial constraints. He also banned the immigration of Catholic priests from France, and placed the Catholic Church in Canada under strict surveillance, arguing that the colonial government should confiscate the estates held by the Sulpician order. However, his reluctance to directly violate the rights of Catholics led to conflict with the Anglican Bishop of Quebec, Jacob Mountain, who singlemindedly pursued Anglican supremacy over the Catholic Church. Prescott was also faced with a refugee crisis, as many United Empire Loyalists and others who had fled United States to settle in Canada had still not received legal title to any lands, and had either returned to the US or began squatting on Canadian land instead. With responsibility for addressing the crisis falling to him as governor, Prescott devised a scheme designed to distinguish genuine settlers from land speculators by basing the size of township grants on the expenses incurred by the applicant, which also served to reward those who had begun to develop lands in anticipation of receiving a land title. This satisfied the majority of applicants, but angered speculators, as it limited their ability to profit from merely holding title to lands in Canada. Prescott began to suspect a conspiracy dating back to at least 1794 amongst members of the Executive Council, including Osgoode, Hugh Finlay (chairman of the land committee) and John Young, to exploit their official positions to acquire large tracts of land for themselves. The Executive Council condemned Prescott's attempted solution to the land issue, leading him to believe that his suspicions had been confirmed. A military figure who was unaccustomed to politicking and perceived insubordination, Prescott lashed out against councillors, openly accusing them of land speculation and jobbery. In April 1799, attempts at reconciliation failed, and the British government recalled Prescott to England, despatching Sir Robert Milnes, 1st Baronet as lieutenant governor to manage Lower Canada in his absence. Milnes promptly granted the Executive Council the land grants they had pursued. After his return to England, Prescott endeavoured for some time to have an official inquiry made into his recall in order to exonerate himself. He officially remained in his position until 1807, but never returned to Lower Canada. He died on 21 December 1815 at Rose Green, West Sussex, aged about 89. == Marriage and Family ==

On 18 January 1765, at All Saints' Church, Wakefield, Prescott married Susanna (d. April 1817, aged 73), daughter of William Serjeantson, of Kirkgate, Wakefield and Hanlith, Kirkby Malham, Yorkshire. They had two daughters and a son, • Susanna (1766-1823), married at St Mary-le-bone, London, 10 March 1783, Lt. Col. John Dalton, 4th Light Dragoons, of Sleningford Hall, Ripon & had issue. Their granddaughter, Susanna Dalbiac, married James Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe, and was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria for thirty years. • Rebecca (1768-1798) married in Quebec Lt. Col. John Baldwin, The 4th (King's Own) Regiment of Foot, A.D.C. to General Prescott, and had issue. • Serjeantson (1784-1816), Lt. Col. 5th Dragoon Guards, m. in Battle, Sussex, 20 December 1808, Mary Falkiner, daughter of Caleb Falkiner, and granddaughter of Sir Riggs Falkiner, 1st Bt., of Cork, Ireland. He was killed by a cricket ball at Rose Green, Sussex, leaving issue. ==Legacy==

Prescott, Ontario and Prescott County are named in his honour. ==See also==