George Charles: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| order              = 1st
| order              =  
| office              = Commanding General of the Newfoundland Armies
| office              = [[Governor of Newfoundland]]
| term_start          = 8 July 1832
| term_start          = August 27, 1856
| term_end            = 15 January 1839
| term_end            = March 9, 1857
| appointer          = [[Alexander Dickson]]
| appointer          = [[Queen Victoria]]
| rank                = [[File:US_Army_O8_(1861).svg|30px]] Bvt. Brigadier General (USV)<br/>[[File:US_Army_O8_(1861).svg|30px]] Major General (NA)
| rank                = [[File:US_Army_O7_(1861).svg|35px]] Bvt. Brigadier General (USA)<br/>[[File:US_Army_O8_(1861).svg|35px]] Major General (NA)
| branch              = [[United States Cavalry|Cavalry]]
| branch              = [[United States Cavalry|Cavalry]]
| commands            = {{unbulleted list
| commands            = {{unbulleted list
| 5th Canadian Dragoons
| 5th Canadian Dragoons
| [[2nd Canadian Cavalry Brigade]]
| [[2nd Canadian Cavalry Brigade (United States)|2nd Canadian Cavalry Brigade]]
| [[Fort Point]]
| [[Fort Point]]
| [[Newfoundland Army]]  
| [[Newfoundland Army]]  
}}
}}
| unit                = {{unbulleted list
| unit                = {{unbulleted list
| [[3rd Canadian Volunteer Dragoons]]
| [[Montreal Light Infantry]]
| [[7th Canadian Light Dragoons]]
| [[1st Quebec Volunteer Dragoons (United States)|1st Quebec Volunteer Dragoons]]
| [[5th Canadian Dragoons]]
| [[2nd Canadian Cuirassiers (United States)|2nd Canadian Cuirassiers]]
| [[5th Canadian Dragoons (United States)|5th Canadian Dragoons]]
}}
}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1788|07|21}}
| serviceyears        = 1800 – 1804 (Canadian Militia)<br/>1804 – 1812 (USV)<br/>1812 – 1822 (USA)<br/>1822 – 1839 (NFA)
| battles            = {{tree list}}
*[[Canadian War]]
**[[Reclaimation War]]
***[[Quebec Campaign (1804)|Quebec Campaign]]
****[[First Battle of Montreal]]
****[[Battle of the Citadel]]
****[[Battle of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu]]
****[[Siege of Fort Chambly]]
****[[Razing of Montreal]]
***[[New Brunswick Campaign (1806)|New Brunswick Campaign]]
****[[Battle of Halifax (1806)|Battle of Halifax]]
**[[War of 1812]]
***[[Newfoundland Campaign]]
*[[Fidèle Uprising]]
**[[St. John Skirmish]]
**[[Battle of Whitbourne (1824)|Battle of Whitbourne]]
*[[1833 Newfoundland Uprising]]
**[[Battle of St. John (1833)|Battle of St. John]]
{{tree list/end}}
| office1            = Commanding General of the Newfoundland Armies
| appointer1          = [[Alexander Dickson]]
| termstart1          = 8 July 1832
| termend1            = 15 January 1839
| order1              = 1st
}}
}}
Major General '''George Charles''' () was a Canadian-American military officer who was influential in recruiting Canadians to the American cause.
== Early life ==
Georges Mont Charles was born on July 21, 1788 to Jean-Baptiste Charles, a middle class merchant, and Renée Charles a seamstress.
When he was 12, at his father's behest, he enlisted as a buglar in the [[Montreal Light Infantry]]. During his time in the ILM, he would get a girlfriend whom he described as the "light and love of [his] life."
== Military career ==
=== Early years (1804 – 1806) ===
In 1804, when Canada and the United States went to war, he ran across the border and became a founding member of the [[1st Quebec Volunteer Dragoons]], they made him an ensign and the colour bearer. He would serve in the [[Quebec Campaign]], earning distinction for his actions during the opening [[First Battle of Montreal|Battle of Montreal]].
=== Commanding General (1832 – 1839) ===
In July 1832, Charles would be appointed as the first [[Commanding General of the Newfoundland Armies]] and he quickly began to reshape the [[Newfoundland Army]]. He petitioned [[Congress of Newfoundland|Congress]] to increase the army and navy's budget to provide for better defence against British and Canadian attacks. During his first year as Commanding General, he was able to increase the [[Regular Army (Newfoundland)|Regular Army]] to 7,500 men and increased the  militia to 25,000 men. Over the course of his tenure he would increase the size of the regular army to 15,000 active troops (including 5,000 guards) and the [[Newfoundland Army Volunteers|Volunteers]] to 45,000. He would also increase the navy from 3 frigates to one 4th rate SOL, five 4th rate frigates, and a eight schooners.