The New International Encyclopædia/Haviland, William

HAV′ILAND, William (1718-84). An English soldier in the French and Indian War in America. He was born in Ireland, and in 1739 was appointed ensign in an infantry regiment, with which he is believed to have served at Porto Bello and Cartagena. During part of the rebellion of 1745 he was aide-de-camp to Colonel (afterwards Lord) Blakeney, and subsequently returned to Ireland, where he remained until 1752, when he was appointed a lieutenant-colonel. In 1757 he went to America with a regiment, was in command at Fort Edward during the winter of 1757-58, served under Abercromby at Ticonderoga, and later under Amherst. In 1760 he was put at the head of a mixed force of colonists and Indians, 3400 strong, and ordered to force a way by Lake Champlain, defended by a French post at Isle aux Noix, and to join the armies of General Murray and Lord Amherst, which were converging on Montreal. He was entirely successful. After the capitulation of Montreal he served in the West Indies, and was present at the conquest of Havana in 1762. An energetic and resourceful officer, he was advanced in rank until he was made general in 1783.