Home > Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst

Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst (sometimes spelled Geoffrey, he himself spelled his name as Jeffery) ( January 29, 1717 - August 3, 1797) served as an officer in the British army

Born in Sevenoaks, England, he became a soldier aged about 14. He gained fame during the Seven Years' War, particularly in the North American campaign known in the United States as the French and Indian War.

Amherst led the British attack in 1758 on Louisbourg (the Siege of Louisbourg), and as leader of the British army in North America, helped the British seize most French territory in Canada. In 1759 he led an advance up Lake Champlain assisting in Wolfe's capture of Quebec City and on September 8, 1760, he captured MontrealMontreal (/mVn. tri"Al/ in English, /mO~. re"al/ in French) is the largest city in the province of Quebec, Canada, where it also constitutes an administrative region. It is Canada's second most populous city after Toronto ( Statistics Canada), and the sec ending French rule in North America. He held the position of military governorA governor is an official who heads the government of a colony, state or other sub-national state unit. Most countries in the world have some sort of official known as a governor, though in some countries, the heads of the states, provinces and regions ma of Canada from 1760 to 1763.

The hostility between the British and aboriginal peoples during the Pontiac Uprising of 1763 led to the first documented use of biological warfare in North American history. In response to the uprising led by the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, Amherst attempted to spread smallpoxSmallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera is a highly contagious disease unique to humans caused by two virus variants called Variola major and Variola minor. major is the more deadly form, with a typical mortality of 20-40 percent o among the aboriginal peoples.

In 1763, Amherst was appointed governor of Virginia and in 1778 was made commander-in-chief of the army. In 1776, he was made Baron Amherst, of Holmesdale, but the title became extinct when he died without descendants. In 1788, the title Baron Amherst, of Montreal, was conferred with a special remainder allowing the title to pass to his nephew instead of to his descendants (of which he had none).

The town of Amherst, MassachusettsAmherst is a town located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 34,874. It is located in the Connecticut River valley. It is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachu, location of Amherst CollegeAmherst College is an independent liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It is the third oldest college in Massachusetts. It has been coeducational since 1975. History Founded in 1821, Amherst was intended to be a successor to both Williams Colle, and Amherst IslandAmherst Island is an island in Lake Ontario near Kingston, Ontario. The island is approximately 70 km² in size, being 20 km long and 7 km at its widest. It is part of Loyalist Township in Lennox and Addington County. A ferry service connects the village o were named for him.

See also: List of Canadian Governors General