Sir Frederick Haldimand

Sir Frederick Haldimand, army officer, governor of Quebec 1778–86 (born 11 August 1718 in Yverdon, Switzerland; died 5 June 1791 in Yverdon, Switzerland). Haldimand served in the Prussian and Dutch armies but is best known for his service in North America with the British army (see Seven Years’ War). As governor of Quebec, Haldimand concentrated on defending the province militarily and the status quo politically.

Frederick Haldimand served in the Prussian army (1740–47) and the Dutch army (1748–55) before transferring to the British army in 1756. He served in North America during the Seven Years' War, and after the Conquest of New France he was twice military governor of Trois-Rivières. He was named Guy Carleton's successor as governor of Quebec in 1777, although Carleton remained in office until June 1778 when Haldimand finally arrived to take over. Haldimand's appointment lasted until 1786, but he was in the province only until 1784.

As governor of Quebec, Haldimand attempted to improve the province's defences and sent raiding parties against the American frontier. Politically, Haldimand agreed with the French party that the Quebec Act represented the charter of government and rejected the English-speaking community's demands for English institutions. As the American Revolution ended, he was responsible for establishing the Loyalist refugees in what is now Ontario, a task he carried out efficiently, and for reconciling the Six Nations to their resettlement in Canada (see Haldimand Proclamation).