Isaac Brock

Sir Isaac Brock was the commander of the British forces at the time of the
American Invasion
He rose to the rank of Major General, and Commander-in-Chief of the forces
of Upper Canada in 1811
Although he would have preferred to be on the battlefields of Europe against
Napoleons armies, he planned the territorys defence brilliantly, and prepared
his armies for an invasion, even though many thought a peaceful solution
would be reached before any War
When the War of 1812 broke out, the populace was prepared, and quick
victories at Fort Mackinac and Detroit defeated American invasion efforts
He was killed by a sharpshooter at the Battle of Queenston Heights on
October 13, 1812, near the start of the War of 1812
Brock's actions, particularly his success at Detroit, earned him a knighthood,
membership in the Order of the Bath, accolades and the sobriquet "The Hero
of Upper Canada"
Canadians regard Brock as one of their greatest military heroes. [62] He was
voted #28 on the television show The Greatest Canadian, although he was
not born or naturalized as a Canadian
 Brockville and Brock in Ontario, Brock in Saskatchewan, General Isaac Brock
Parkway on Highway 405 and Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, are
all named in tribute to Brock
Laura Secord

Born in Massachusetts, she moved to Queenston (Ontario) with her family

following the US War of Indepedence, them married James Secord, a citizen
soldier
James was seriously wounded in the battle of Queenston Heights, and was
still disabled a year later in 1813 when American forces occupied his
farmhouse
Laura overheard the soldiers careless chatter about their mission to occupy
the village of Beaver Dam. She slipped away, and walked 20 miles barefoot
and through the woods in darkness to warn the British of the plan
Early notice allowed for the defeat of the Americans when they arrived
 The stamp above is from 1992, and commemorates Laura travelling through
the woods to warn the British. The figures of Indians, whom she met along the
way, are visible in the background
Her contribution to the war was little known during her lifetime, but since her
death she has been frequently honoured in Canada

Lieutenant-Colonel Charles-Michel de Salaberry

Commanding Officer of the Provincial Corps of Light Infantry in Lower

Canada, 60th Regiment of Foot
Received the rare Field Officers Gold Medal for his exceptional service
Turned back a superior force of American regulars at the Battle of
Chateauguay, saving Montreal from attack
He ordered the felling of trees to build tangled breastworks of "abatis" in the
ravines where the Chateauguay met the English River, then dispersed his
troops through the woods. Facing Hampton's force of 4000 troops and 10
 cannon, de Salaberry led an advance guard of 250 Voltigeurs plus 50 allied
warriors of the Kaunawakee Mohawk nation
After the War of 1812, Charles de Salaberry became a folk hero in French
Canada. He served as justice of the peace for various district courts, and in
1818 became a legislative councillor for Lower Canada
In 1817, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath

Tecumseh

Shawnee native leader, united numerous Indigenous tribes, forming a

Confederacy in the fight against the Americans
 Concerned about American westward expansion and encroachment onto
Indigenous territory, he supported the British in the War of 1812 with the hope
of assuring the possession of Indian lands

allied with the British and helped in the capture of Fort Detroit.

fter the U.S. Navy took control of Lake Erie in 1813, the Native Americans and
British retreated. American forces caught them at the Battle of the Thames,
and killed Tecumseh in October 1813

With his death, his confederation disintegrated, and the Native Americans had
to move west again, yet Tecumseh became an iconic folk hero in American,
Aboriginal and Canadian history

Activity
1) Use the pictures posted around the classroom (see
War of 1812 pictures file), all showing events from the
War of 1812, and make notes about what you think
makes someone heroic? Who are some heroes in
your life, and why?

2) Choose the one, from the four above Canadian

heroes of the War of 1812, that you feel best
represents a hero. Why did you choose this person?