CIRCLE WITH A DOT

What a pleasure to talk about my book with members of the Canadian International Council, Waterloo branch, last night at St. Jerome's University. An engaged and thoughtful audience!

There are a lot of people to thank for making it happen. Special thanks to John English for the invitation, Shawky Fahel for smoothing the way, Ryan Touhey of the history department at St. Jerome’s for co-sponsoring my talk, and Krenare Recaj for dashing out and getting more books when it looked like we did not have enough!

#hedidnotconquer #canada #cdnhist #cdaus @dundurnpress

Photo credit: Frances Barclay

Donald Trump is hardly the first American to use trade for political ends. #OTD March 2, 1776, Benjamin Franklin and other members of the Committee of Secret Correspondence decided to offer France access to American trade in exchange for French support for the American Revolution.

The offer was laid out in the committee’s instructions to Silas Deane, an agent they were sending to Paris. Deane was to use Franklin’s contacts in scientific circles to gain an audience with the French foreign minister, Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes.

He was to tell Vergennes that “the Commercial Advantages, Britain had enjoyed with the Colonies had contributed greatly to her late Wealth & Importance,” and then ask for France’s political and financial support, including arms, ammunition, and clothing for 25,000 men.

#hedidnotconquer #canada #history #books #americanrevolution #america250

One of the many reasons the Americans failed to conquer Canada in 1775-76 was that they under-estimated how hard it would be and did not allocate sufficient men, money, weapons, and provisions to the invasion.

These shortages only worsened when the fight with Britain intensified in the 13 colonies and the best men and equipment were directed to the fighting closer to home.

#OTD March 1, 1776, John Hancock wrote Charles Lee, considered one of the top generals in the Continental Army, to say he would not be going to Canada after all.

“The Congress have at Length Determin'd to Superceed the orders given you to proceed to Canada, and have this day come to a Resolution that you shall take the Command of the Continental Forces in the Southern Departmt. which Comprehends Virginia. North Carolina. South Carolina & Georgia,” wrote Hancock, in his role as president of the Continental Congress.

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#hedidnotconquer #canada #history #books #americanrevolution @dundurnpress

#OTD February 26, 1776, the Continental Congress agreed to pay the expenses of French printer Fleury Mesplet and to give him “25 Half Joes to remove Himself, his Family and Types to Canada and there set up a free Press.”

Mesplet would eventually found the Montreal Gazette newspaper. But his purpose on this trip was to help Benjamin Franklin persuade the French Canadians to join the American Revolution.

He was left behind with his printing press when Franklin and the Continental Army fled for home in May 1776. (The half joe was a Portuguese gold coin commonly used in the 13 colonies.)

#hedidnotconquer #canada #history #books #montreal #quebec