Isaac Brock was a British major-general and administrator, who served in various parts of the Empire for nearly thirty years, serving in the Caribbean, Denmark, and elsewhere. During that time he challenged duelists, nearly died from fever, was injured in battle, faced both desertions and near mutinies, and also had the privilege of serving alongside Lord Nelson. However, he is best remembered for his actions while assigned to the Canadian colonies. Brock was assigned to Canada in 1802, eventually reaching the rank of Major-General. In this capacity, he was responsible for defending Canada from the United States during the War of 1812. While many in Canada and in England believed war could be averted, Brock began preparing the army, the militia, and the populace for what was to come. Thus, when war broke out, Canada was prepared, and quick victories at Fort Mackinac, and in the Battle of Detroit, which crippled American invasion efforts, secured Brock's reputation as a brilliant leader and strategist. His death in the Battle of Queenston Heights was a crushing blow to British leadership. Brock's efforts earned him accolades, a knighthood, and the moniker 'The Hero of Upper Canada'.
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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
732: Battle of Tours: Charles Martel and the Franks defeated a large Andalusian Muslim army led by Abd er Rahman near Tours and Poitiers, stopping the northward advance of Islam from the Iberian Peninsula. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tours)
1911: The Xinhai Revolution began with the Wuchang Uprising, marking the beginning of the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in China. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuchang_Uprising)
1973: U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew <small>(pictured)</small> resigned after being charged with tax evasion. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiro_Agnew)
1982: St. Maximilian Kolbe, who had volunteered to die in place of another man in a Nazi concentration camp, was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_Kolbe)
1987: After two military coups in Fiji led by Sitiveni Rabuka, the military government revoked the constitution and declared Fiji a republic. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji_coups_of_1987)
_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:
"The truth is that there is only one terminal dignity — love. And the story of a love is not important — what is important is that one is capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity." -- Helen Hayes (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Helen_Hayes)