19th Century British School  Sir Gordon Drummond (Quebec 177...

Hammer

€3,200

19th Century British School 
Sir Gordon Drummond (Quebec 1772 - 1854 London)

'Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, c. 1816'
O.O.C., 76cms x 64cms (30'' x 25''). (1)

Provenance: Private Collection.

Dressed in a scarlet coat, with gold braid and a high wing collar, Gordon Drummond looks every bit an imperial military leader. The red sash and large medal he wears on his jacket are part of the regalia of a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath. Drummond appears comparatively young in this portrait, perhaps in his 'thirties.' As he was awarded the Order of the Bath in 1816 when he was in his late forties, it can be conjectured that either the portraitist was flattering his subject by making him look younger, or else the sash and medal were added to a portrait painted earlier in Drummond’s career.
Born in Quebec in 1772, Gordon Drummond was of Scottish descent, his father Colin having migrated to Canada eight years previously, to work for a firm run by his brother Adam, supplying victuals to British troops in
North America. Colin Drummond gradually worked his way up to becoming Paymaster General to the army in Quebec. In 1780, after his father's death, Gordon Drummond returned to England. After attending Westminster School, he joined the British army as an ensign with the 1st Foot in 1789, seeing action in the Netherlands and Egypt, and also being stationed in the Mediterranean and West Indies. By 1805 he was a Major-General and four years later returned to Canada, part of the staff of Governor-General Sir James Henry Craig. During the war of 1812 Drummond was appointed Lieutenant-Governor, and led successful attacks on Fort Niagara and Buffalo. He brooked no nonsense, and saw to it that army deserters were hanged for treason. He led attacks at Lundy Lane and Fort George, that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of soldiers, on both the American and British sides. He suffered some setbacks, being forced to abandon a siege of Fort Erie and retire to Chippawa. In 1815, not long after the cessation of hostilities, Drummond was appointed Governor-General of Canada, which involved him in military administration. He offered an amnesty to deserters and fought to secure pensions and
recognition for those who had fought in the war, including Mohawk allies. Returning to England in 1816 he was made a Knight of the Bath and appointed Colonel of the 88th Regiment of Foot, before moving on to command other regiments. In 1825 he was promoted to full general. He died in 1854 at his home in London, aged 82.

Dr. Peter Murray, 2023