John Le Couteur: Difference between revisions
m Added celsius equivalent |
Added details on his memoirs and historiography |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
|birth_place= [[Saint Aubin, Jersey|Saint Aubin]], [[Jersey]] |
|birth_place= [[Saint Aubin, Jersey|Saint Aubin]], [[Jersey]] |
||
|death_place=[[Saint Aubin, Jersey|Saint Aubin]], [[Jersey]] |
|death_place=[[Saint Aubin, Jersey|Saint Aubin]], [[Jersey]] |
||
|image=File:Colonel John Le Couteur (1794–1875) by John Boeden.jpg|Colonel John Le Couteur by John Boeden, 1831|175px| |
|||
|allegiance={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]] |
|allegiance={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]] |
||
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|19px]] [[British Army]] |
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|19px]] [[British Army]] |
||
| Line 21: | Line 22: | ||
In November 1811, at the age of 17, Le Couteur was promoted from Ensign in the 96th Regiment (on Jersey) to a Lieutenant in the [[Canadian_Units_of_the_War_of_1812#The_New_Brunswick_Fencibles|104th Regiment of Foot]] and was ordered to join his regiment in [[New Brunswick]].<ref>Balleine, p.380</ref> During the [[War of 1812|Anglo-American War]] of 1812, the 104th was ordered to march 700 miles from [[Fredericton]], in the less vulnerable region of New Brunswick, to defend [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]] in the threatened area of Upper Canada. This was necessary because the Commander-in-Chief in Canada, [[Sir George Prevost]], found himself with only 3000 troops to defend 1100 miles of frontier.<ref>Stevens, p.44</ref> The march of the 104th, of which Le Couteur's journal provides a detailed account, lasted from 21 February to 12 April 1813. The men marched across difficult terrain in extreme winter conditions and, with temperatures dropping as low as -27°F (-32°C), few escaped frostbite.<ref>Stevens, p.47</ref> |
In November 1811, at the age of 17, Le Couteur was promoted from Ensign in the 96th Regiment (on Jersey) to a Lieutenant in the [[Canadian_Units_of_the_War_of_1812#The_New_Brunswick_Fencibles|104th Regiment of Foot]] and was ordered to join his regiment in [[New Brunswick]].<ref>Balleine, p.380</ref> During the [[War of 1812|Anglo-American War]] of 1812, the 104th was ordered to march 700 miles from [[Fredericton]], in the less vulnerable region of New Brunswick, to defend [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]] in the threatened area of Upper Canada. This was necessary because the Commander-in-Chief in Canada, [[Sir George Prevost]], found himself with only 3000 troops to defend 1100 miles of frontier.<ref>Stevens, p.44</ref> The march of the 104th, of which Le Couteur's journal provides a detailed account, lasted from 21 February to 12 April 1813. The men marched across difficult terrain in extreme winter conditions and, with temperatures dropping as low as -27°F (-32°C), few escaped frostbite.<ref>Stevens, p.47</ref> |
||
[[File:JohnLeCouteur1811.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Image of John Le Couteur as a subaltern officer, c.1811.]] |
|||
Le Couteur later took part in the [[Siege of Fort Erie]], the battles of [[Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor|Sackett's Harbour]] and [[Battle of Lundy's Lane|Lundy's Lane]] and thirty-three skirmishes.<ref>Stevens, p.54</ref> |
Le Couteur later took part in the [[Siege of Fort Erie]], the battles of [[Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor|Sackett's Harbour]] and [[Battle of Lundy's Lane|Lundy's Lane]] and thirty-three skirmishes.<ref>Stevens, p.54</ref> |
||
| Line 39: | Line 42: | ||
Le Couteur had many interests and was a competent artist. He undertook a sustained scientific study of wheat and produced several books on agriculture: ''On the Varieties, Properties, and Classification of Wheat'' (1836); ''On the Use of the Jersey Trench Plough'' (1842); ''On the Rise, Progress and State of Agriculture in Jersey'' (1852). In recognition of his enquiries, Le Couteur was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1843. |
Le Couteur had many interests and was a competent artist. He undertook a sustained scientific study of wheat and produced several books on agriculture: ''On the Varieties, Properties, and Classification of Wheat'' (1836); ''On the Use of the Jersey Trench Plough'' (1842); ''On the Rise, Progress and State of Agriculture in Jersey'' (1852). In recognition of his enquiries, Le Couteur was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1843. |
||
==Historiography== |
|||
Le Couteur was a prolific writer, and his voluminous papers are held by the Société Jersiaise in [[Saint Helier]]. Selections were published in 1969 in Joan Steven's ''Victorian voices: An introduction to the papers of Sir John Le Couteur''. His War of 1812 memoirs, edited by Canadian historian [[Donald E. Graves]], were published in 1993 as ''Merry Hearts Make Light Days''. |
|||
Le Couteur also gained renewed public attention in both Canada and Jersey when his account of the 104th Regiment's 1813 trek from [[Fredericton, New Brunswick]] to [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston, Upper Canada]] was adapted into a student short film, ''The Winter March'' in 2013. <ref name="Huffington Post"> {{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/04/15/new-heritage-minute-contest_n_3085094.html |title=New Heritage Minute Contest: Eamonn O'Keeffe, Patrick Y. Lee Win With 'The Winter March' |date=April 15, 2013 |website= Huffington Post|access-date=May 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Fife and Drum">{{cite journal| title=Historica-Dominion Heritage Minute Winners|year=June 2013|publisher=''The Fife and Drum''|location=Toronto|url=http://preservedstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/fife-and-drum-june-2013.pdf||pages=7}}</ref> |
|||
The project won the [[Historica Canada|Historica-Dominion Institute]]'s War of 1812 bicentennial [[Heritage Minute]] student contest and was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival's Next Wave showcase. |
|||
<ref name="Historica Canada press release"> {{cite web|url=https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/toronto-students-win-historica-dominion-institutes-war-1812-make-your-own-heritage-minute |title=Toronto students win The Historica-Dominion Institute’s War of 1812 Make Your Own Heritage Minute contest with “The Winter March”!| |date=April 26, 2013 |website= Historica Canada |access-date=May 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="The Winter March"> {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8mWYjPHbVw |title=The Winter March (2013) |date=March 16, 2013 |website=Youtube|access-date=May 23, 2017}}</ref> |
|||
==Notes== |
==Notes== |
||
| Line 46: | Line 57: | ||
*{{Cite book|author=Balleine, George Reginald |title=A Biographical Dictionary of Jersey |location= London |publisher=Staples Press |year= 1948}} |
*{{Cite book|author=Balleine, George Reginald |title=A Biographical Dictionary of Jersey |location= London |publisher=Staples Press |year= 1948}} |
||
*{{Cite book|author=Stevens, Joan| title=Victorian voices: An introduction to the papers of Sir John Le Couteur | location=Jersey| publisher= St. Helier: Société Jersiaise |year= 1969}} |
*{{Cite book|author=Stevens, Joan| title=Victorian voices: An introduction to the papers of Sir John Le Couteur | location=Jersey| publisher= St. Helier: Société Jersiaise |year= 1969}} |
||
*{{Cite book|author=Graves, Donald E.| title=Merry Hearts Make Light Days: The War of 1812 Journal of Lieutenant John Le Couteur, 104th Foot| publisher= McGill Queen's University Press |year=1993}} |
|||
*{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/04/15/new-heritage-minute-contest_n_3085094.html |title=New Heritage Minute Contest: Eamonn O'Keeffe, Patrick Y. Lee Win With 'The Winter March' |date=April 15, 2013 |website= Huffington Post|access-date=May 23, 2017}} |
|||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
*[http://jersey-dk.dk/john-le-couteurs.htm John Le Couteur's Papers in the Societe Jersiaise] |
*[http://jersey-dk.dk/john-le-couteurs.htm John Le Couteur's Papers in the Societe Jersiaise] |
||
*[http://www.upperstjohn.com/visits/104thregiment.htm March 1813: The 104th New Brunswick Regiment of Foot] |
*[http://www.upperstjohn.com/visits/104thregiment.htm March 1813: The 104th New Brunswick Regiment of Foot] |
||
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8mWYjPHbVw The Winter March (2013) short film] |
|||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Couteur, John Le}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Couteur, John Le}} |
||
Revision as of 16:31, 24 May 2017
John Le Couteur | |
|---|---|
_by_John_Boeden.jpg) | |
| Born | 21 October 1794 Saint Aubin, Jersey |
| Died | 24 December 1875 (aged 81) Saint Aubin, Jersey |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 104th Regiment of Foot (New Brunswick Regiment) |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
| Other work | Aide-de-camp for Jersey |
Sir John Le Couteur, Colonel, (21 October 1794 – 24 December 1875) was a British Army officer and Aide-de-camp for Jersey to William IV and Victoria.
War of 1812
In November 1811, at the age of 17, Le Couteur was promoted from Ensign in the 96th Regiment (on Jersey) to a Lieutenant in the 104th Regiment of Foot and was ordered to join his regiment in New Brunswick.[1] During the Anglo-American War of 1812, the 104th was ordered to march 700 miles from Fredericton, in the less vulnerable region of New Brunswick, to defend Kingston in the threatened area of Upper Canada. This was necessary because the Commander-in-Chief in Canada, Sir George Prevost, found himself with only 3000 troops to defend 1100 miles of frontier.[2] The march of the 104th, of which Le Couteur's journal provides a detailed account, lasted from 21 February to 12 April 1813. The men marched across difficult terrain in extreme winter conditions and, with temperatures dropping as low as -27°F (-32°C), few escaped frostbite.[3]
Le Couteur later took part in the Siege of Fort Erie, the battles of Sackett's Harbour and Lundy's Lane and thirty-three skirmishes.[4]
In his journal, Le Couteur expresses admiration for the bravery of the First Nation allies, but considers them 'very savage'[5] and cruel to prisoners.[6]
After the war, in 1816, Le Couteur was appointed Aide-de-camp to his father, Lieutenant-General John Le Couteur, in Curaçao before returning to Canada the following year.[7]
Life and work in Jersey
When the 104th Regiment was disbanded in 1818, Le Couteur returned to Jersey as a Captain and married his cousin, Harriet Janvrin. He had two sons and three daughters.[8]
He became Colonel of the West Regiment of the Militia in 1829.[9]
In Jersey, Le Couteur held a number of official posts: he was elected Connétable of Saint Brélade in 1826 and Jurat in 1835. He was appointed Aide-de-camp in 1831 to William IV and this position was renewed when Victoria came to the throne in 1837 (Victoria visited the island in 1846). Le Couteur held the position of Aide-de-camp until 1872 and he was knighted in the same year.[10]
Agricultural science
Le Couteur had many interests and was a competent artist. He undertook a sustained scientific study of wheat and produced several books on agriculture: On the Varieties, Properties, and Classification of Wheat (1836); On the Use of the Jersey Trench Plough (1842); On the Rise, Progress and State of Agriculture in Jersey (1852). In recognition of his enquiries, Le Couteur was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1843.
Historiography
Le Couteur was a prolific writer, and his voluminous papers are held by the Société Jersiaise in Saint Helier. Selections were published in 1969 in Joan Steven's Victorian voices: An introduction to the papers of Sir John Le Couteur. His War of 1812 memoirs, edited by Canadian historian Donald E. Graves, were published in 1993 as Merry Hearts Make Light Days. Le Couteur also gained renewed public attention in both Canada and Jersey when his account of the 104th Regiment's 1813 trek from Fredericton, New Brunswick to Kingston, Upper Canada was adapted into a student short film, The Winter March in 2013. [11][12]
The project won the Historica-Dominion Institute's War of 1812 bicentennial Heritage Minute student contest and was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival's Next Wave showcase. [13][14]
Notes
- ^ Balleine, p.380
- ^ Stevens, p.44
- ^ Stevens, p.47
- ^ Stevens, p.54
- ^ Balleine, p.380
- ^ Balleine, p.380
- ^ Stevens, p.xxii
- ^ Balleine, p.382
- ^ Balleine, p.380
- ^ Balleine, p.382
- ^ "New Heritage Minute Contest: Eamonn O'Keeffe, Patrick Y. Lee Win With 'The Winter March'". Huffington Post. April 15, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ "Historica-Dominion Heritage Minute Winners" (PDF). Toronto: The Fife and Drum. June 2013: 7.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Toronto students win The Historica-Dominion Institute's War of 1812 Make Your Own Heritage Minute contest with "The Winter March"!". Historica Canada. April 26, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "The Winter March (2013)". Youtube. March 16, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
References
- Balleine, George Reginald (1948). A Biographical Dictionary of Jersey. London: Staples Press.
- Stevens, Joan (1969). Victorian voices: An introduction to the papers of Sir John Le Couteur. Jersey: St. Helier: Société Jersiaise.
- Graves, Donald E. (1993). Merry Hearts Make Light Days: The War of 1812 Journal of Lieutenant John Le Couteur, 104th Foot. McGill Queen's University Press.
- "New Heritage Minute Contest: Eamonn O'Keeffe, Patrick Y. Lee Win With 'The Winter March'". Huffington Post. April 15, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2017.