Men of Kent and Kentishmen/Jeffrey Amherst
Jeffrey Amherst,
Baron Amherst, Field Marshal,
Was born at Riverhead, 29th January, 1717. The Duke of Dorset, his father's neighbour, took him when a boy into his service as a page, and procured him in 1731 an ensigncy in the Guards. By the same patron's influence he became aide-de-camp to General Ligonier, and served with distinction under that General at Dettingen and Fontenoy, and subsequently under the Duke of Cumberland. He then attracted the notice of Pitt, who in 1758 placed him in command of the expedition to North America, which ended so gloriously for the British arms in the downfall of Montreal in 1760. In the same year he was appointed Governor-General of British North America, and in 1761 received the thanks of Parliament. He was subsequently made Governor of Virginia, which position, however, he resigned at the instance of the king. He was then appointed Governor of Guernsey, and in 1772 a privy councillor, and commander-in-chief of the forces. In this capacity he was the chief adviser of the Government during the American war. In 1780 he was instrumental in suppressing the Gordon Riots. In 1787 he was created Lord Amherst, and in 1796 a Field Marshal. He did not long survive this last honour, and died at his seat Montreal on 3rd August, 1797. There is no published biography of Lord Amherst, but fair notices of him may be found in biographical dictionaries and encyclopaedias; and an account of his campaigns in the histories of his time.
[See particularly "Gentlemen's Magazine," vol. 67, pt. 2.]