The female soldier known as ' Mother Ross ' was said to have been born ' Christian Cavenaugh of Dublin. In search of her lost soldier husband, Richard, she enlisted in 1693 as a private in a foot regiment as ' Christopher Walsh ' For 13yrs she served in different regiments, was wounded at Landen, then transferred to the Scots Greys as a trooper of dragoons. Her sex was discovered only when she again was wounded at Ramillies. Two husbands were killed serving with Marlborough. She was granted a pension of a shilling a day by Queen Anne on her death in 1739 and was buried with military honours in the Chelsea Hospital cemetary.

James Fitzgibbon an Irishman born in 1780 at Glin on the South shore of the river Snannon. In 1802 he went to Quebec with the 49th Foot acting as Adjutant. He was later appointed both Adjutant and assistant General of Militia in Upper Canada. he loved soldiering. He became the hero of the Beaver Dam in the war of 1812. He made a name for himself when in command of the Militia he organised government resistance in the Rebellion of Upper Canada in 1837. His services in the militia and various civil capacities were finally recognised . Thanks to the patronage of members of the aristocracy interested in Canada and Fitzgibbon personally, he ended his career as a Miitary Knight of Windsor where he died at 83 years of age.

Sir Guy Carleton, Baron Dorchester: Born in Strabane 3rd September 1724. Irishmen were prominent in the conquest of Canada and in particular the capture of Quebec during the Seven Years War. Several were appointed by James Wolfe ( one of the renowned heroes of the eighteenth century ) Guy Charleton was also one of the greatest historical figures of the same period. His principal roles were Quartermaster-General under Wolfe in the Battle of The Plains of Abraham in 1759, also as Lieutenat Governor and later as Governor-in-Chief of Quebec from 1766 to 1778 during which in the course of a four year absence in England

1770-74, he played the key role in the passing of the Quebec Act of 1774 which concilliated the French Canadians with the British by Guaranteeing their civil and religious rights and upon his return to Canada he played yet another vital role in helping to repel the American Revolutionary Army's invasion of Canada 1775-76. Carleton was also Commandering Chief of the British Forces in North America 1782-1783 when he was in charge of the evacuation of New York in 1783 by the British forces and Loyalists and as Governor-in-Chief of British North America 1786-96 when he promoted the Constitution Act of 1791 which helped develop representative institutions in Canada.

Thomas Carleton (GEN.)(HON) 1735-1817: Born at Newry County Down Ireland.
In 1753 he enlisted in the 20th Regiment of Foot in Glasgow. Was promoted to the rank of Ensign, February 12th 1755 and to that of Lieutenant, in the same year. He served with the Expedition against Rochfort in 1757; and at St. Malo in 1758. He was present at The Battle of Minden, August the 1st, 1759, and was promoted to the rank of Captain. Thomas Carleton was also present at the attack on Hirchburg; the Siege of Wesel; and The Battle of Compen, October 16th, 1760, under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. In 1761 he acted as Aide-de-Camp to Lord Frederick Cavendish, returning to England in 1763 at the

conclusion of the Seven Years War. He served in Gibralter with his regiment from 1765 until 1769, when it was recalled to England, and in 1772 he was appointed Brevet-Major. In 1774, he obtained leave of absence to join the Russian Army and fought against the Turks at Silistria. He returned to England in 1775 and in 1776 was promoted to the rank of Brevet Lieut. Colonel in his own regiment. He went to Canada where he became Quarter Master General in the Northern Army, commanded by his brother Sir Guy Carleton. Was present at the naval action on Lake Champion in which General Benedict Arnold's fleet was destroyed. He served in Canada until 1782, when he went to New York and from there at the close of the Revolutionary War, returned to England.

Issac Barre 1776-1802, born in Dublin. He was the son of a French refugee. He was educated at Trinity college Dublin, entered the army and was a Major with the 32nd Foot. In 1759 he was an Adjutant General with Wolfe at the taking of Quebec, where he was also wounded. A vigorous opponent of taxation of America, Barre displayed his mastery of invective of his Championship of the American cause, and the name " Sons of Liberty " which he had applied to the colonists in one of his speeches became a common designation of the American
organizations directed against the Stamp Act as well as of later patriotic clubs.

Sir Henry Sheehy Keating, KCB, born into a well known Irish family with military connections, he and his brothers were eductaed at the English Jesuit College in Liege. Gazetted Ensign in the 33rd Foot, seeing service in Martinique, by 1800 he had transferred as Major to the 56th Foot, the Pompadours, and was Lieutenant Colonel when the regiment went to India in 1807. Keatinf was in overall command of the expedition to capture from the French the Island of Bourbon, an important position commanding the trade route from England. In 1810 he accepted the island's surrender and was appointed its Governor.

It is a sad fact that during some wars Irish fought Irish, and this was evident during the American War of Independence. When the American Continental Arsmy captured Montreal it was led by Brigadier General Richard Montgomery of Swords, Couny Dublin ( Left ) a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, who had almost 20 years of service in the British Army.
He died leading an unsuccessful assault on Quebec in 1775; opposing him was the Anglo Irish Major General Guy Carleton.

Washington's Continental Army had prominent commanders like ' Mad ' Anthony Wayne
1745-1796, one of the best generals on the Colonial side during the American Revolution. He displayed the most reckless bravery and boldness, calculated his risks carefully however and won. Others were Henry Knox and John Sullivan, all three were of Irish decent.




Henry Knox 1750-1806








John Sullivan 1740-1795

Most outstanding was the Irish-born Edward Hand of King's County, also a graduate of Trinity College Dublin. A former surgeon's mate in the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, who would be breveted as Major General in the Continental Army. He took part in the storming of the British works at Yorktown and at this British defeat Brigadier General Charles O'Hara, from County Sligo and future notorious govenor of Gibralter, surrendered on behalf of Major General Lord Cornwallis.

Brigadier General Charles O'Hara (left ) handed over the surrender of Yorktown on behalf of Cornwallis.