Battle of Beauharnois

The Battle of Beauharnois was fought on November 10, 1838, between Lower Canada loyalists and Patriote rebels, after 500 armed men had converged on Beauharnois, on November 3–4, overtaking the seigneurial manor.[2]

Battle of Beauharnois
Part of The Lower Canada Rebellion
Date November 10, 1838 Location Beauharnois, Quebec Result Loyalist victory
Belligerents
Lower Canada Loyalist volunteers 1st Glengarry Militia 71st Highlanders[1]	500 Patriotes
Commanders and leaders
General Sir James Macdonell General John Clitherow Colonel Alexander Fraser	Chevalier de Lorimier

The seigneury of Beauharnois belonged to the Ellice family, having, in 1796, purchased it from Michel Chartier de Lotbinière, Marquis de Lotbinière. Edward Ellice, private secretary to John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, had then been in residence for several months. He, and, separately, his wife, Lady Jane Ellice, and her sister, Eglantine "Tina" Balfour, later Ellice, were taken prisoner, along with a number of others. Ellice's watercolours, sketches and diary survived, and record that they were unharmed.[3][4]

The town rose up, following a series of raids by rebel leaders who had escaped into the United States. François-Marie-Thomas Chevalier de Lorimier commanded the ranks of the Patriote rebels. The British were victorious, and 108 rebels were captured and tried in Montreal.[5] 58 of the Patriote rebels were deported to Australia,[6] while Lorimier was hanged.[7][8]

Government forces burned several buildings in the area in reprisal for the rebels’ actions.[9]