Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mante, Thomas

by Henry Manners Chichester

MANTE, THOMAS (fl. 1772), military writer, describes himself as having served as an assistant engineer at the siege of Havana in 1762, and as major of brigade to Colonel Dudley Bradstreet in the campaigns against the Indians in 1764. His name does not appear in any British 'Army List,' nor in Porter's 'History of the Royal Engineers.' Mante wrote several military works, the most important being his 'History of the late War in America, including the Campaigns against His Majesty's Indian Enemies,' London, 1772, a handsome quarto, praised by the American historians Sparks and Bancroft, and now scarce (cf. Lowndes, Bibl. Manual, Bohn; Winsor, Hist. of America, v. 616, footnote). Mante obtained, but did not take out, a license to print and vend the work for a term of fourteen years (Home Office Warrant Book, vol. xxxiv. f. 195). The book was published in the ordinary way. Mante also wrote a 'Treatise on the Use of Defensive Arms, translated from the French of Joly de Maizeray, with Remarks,' London. 1771; 'System of Tactics, translated from the French of Joly de Maizeray,' and dedicated to Guy Carleton, lord Dorchester, London, 1781; and 'Naval and Military History of the Wars of England, including those of Scotland and Ireland,' London, 1795?-1807. The last two volumes are described as ' completed by an impartial hand,' presumably after the author's death.

[Allibone's Dict. vol. ii.; Drake's American Biog.; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Mante's Works. The}} note from a Mr. Thomas 'Mant' about an acceptance in 1754, among the Caryll Papers in the British Museum (Add. MS. 28232. f. 372), may suggest a clue to his origin.]

H. M. C.