British Army Officer. A native of Giln, County Limerick, Ireland, he gained fame as a hero of the War of 1812. At the age of 15 he joined the Knight of Glin’s Yeomanry Corps, and at the age of 18, the Tarbert Infantry Fencibles. In 1799 he fought in the Battle of Egmond aan Zee, Holland, and the Battle of Copenhagen, Denmark, for which he won the distinguished Naval General Service Medal for bravery. In 1802 he was made a marine, in 1806 a Sergeant, and finally in 1809 a Lieutenant. In 1802, he immigrated to Canada and began serving under General Sir Isaac Brock, another Canadian war hero. Fitzgibbon also fought in the Battle of Fort George, the Battle of Stony Creek, the Battle of Lundy's Lane, and of course, the Battle of Beaver Dams, for which he is best remembered. On July 22, 1813, heroine Laura Secord, walked on foot over a span of 50 miles to warn Lieutenant Fitzgibbons of an impending attack by about 500 American troops. With this information he planned his own sneak attack and with 400 Mohawk and Odawa Indians, they defeated the American troops taking over 462 prisoners. After the attack he became a national hero and was promoted to Captain. After the war he served as a public servant, Colonel, and Acting Adjutant-General of the Militia. In 1847 he moved to England, where he became the Military Knight of Windsor. He died there in December 1863 at the age of 83, and was buried in St. George's Chapel of Windsor Castle. In 2003 some of his personal belongings including a ceremonial sword and signet ring were donated to the Canadian Military Museum in Ottawa, Ontario.
British Army Officer. A native of Giln, County Limerick, Ireland, he gained fame as a hero of the War of 1812. At the age of 15 he joined the Knight of Glin’s Yeomanry Corps, and at the age of 18, the Tarbert Infantry Fencibles. In 1799 he fought in the Battle of Egmond aan Zee, Holland, and the Battle of Copenhagen, Denmark, for which he won the distinguished Naval General Service Medal for bravery. In 1802 he was made a marine, in 1806 a Sergeant, and finally in 1809 a Lieutenant. In 1802, he immigrated to Canada and began serving under General Sir Isaac Brock, another Canadian war hero. Fitzgibbon also fought in the Battle of Fort George, the Battle of Stony Creek, the Battle of Lundy's Lane, and of course, the Battle of Beaver Dams, for which he is best remembered. On July 22, 1813, heroine Laura Secord, walked on foot over a span of 50 miles to warn Lieutenant Fitzgibbons of an impending attack by about 500 American troops. With this information he planned his own sneak attack and with 400 Mohawk and Odawa Indians, they defeated the American troops taking over 462 prisoners. After the attack he became a national hero and was promoted to Captain. After the war he served as a public servant, Colonel, and Acting Adjutant-General of the Militia. In 1847 he moved to England, where he became the Military Knight of Windsor. He died there in December 1863 at the age of 83, and was buried in St. George's Chapel of Windsor Castle. In 2003 some of his personal belongings including a ceremonial sword and signet ring were donated to the Canadian Military Museum in Ottawa, Ontario.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Fitzgibbon memorials in:
Advertisement
