Frederick Dobson Middleton

Sir Frederick Dobson Middleton

Sir Frederick Middleton
Born 4 November 1825
Belfast, Ireland
Died 25 January 1898
London, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Dominion of Canada
Service/branch British Army
Canadian Militia
Years of service 1845 – 1890
Rank General
Commands held Royal Military College Sandhurst
General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada
Battles/wars New Zealand Wars
Indian Mutiny
North-West Rebellion
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Companion of the Order of the Bath

General Sir Frederick Dobson Middleton KCMG, CB (4 November 1825 – 25 January 1898) was a British general noted for his service throughout the Empire and particularly in the North-West Rebellion.

Military career

Educated at Maidstone Grammar School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Middleton was commissioned into the 58th Regiment of Foot in 1842.[1]

He served in the New Zealand Wars and in 1845, he was mentioned in dispatches for his part in the capture of the stronghold of Māori chief Te Ruki Kawiti.[1]

In 1848 he transferred to the 96th Regiment of Foot in India and took part in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny in which campaign he was recommended for, but not actually awarded, the Victoria Cross.[1] He went on to be Commandant of the Royal Military College Sandhurst in 1879.[1]

He was appointed General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada in 1884.[1] In 1885 the North-West Rebellion took place and Middleton had to respond.[1] Despite a defeat at the Battle of Fish Creek, his cautious approach reached Batoche, Saskatchewan where the Métis surrendered after three days' bombardment.[1] For his service in the war, Middleton was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1885.[1] He also received the thanks of Parliament and the sum of $20,000.[1]

He resigned as head of the Militia in 1890 when a select committee of the House of Commons criticized him for the misappropriation of furs from a Métis named Charles Bremner during the resistance.[1]

Family

Frederick Dobson Middleton married, as his first wife, Mary Emily Hassall.[1]

He married in February 1870 as his second wife, Marie Cecile Eugénie Doucet, daughter of Theodore Doucet, N.P., of Montreal. She was born in Montreal in 1846, and was educated at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Sault-au-Recollet. The couple had two sons and a daughter. She died at Tateley, Hants, England, November 1, 1899.[2]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Richard Luard
General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada
1884–1890
Succeeded by
Lord Treowen