James FitzGibbon was a British soldier and hero of the War of 1812.
Born to Garrett FitzGibbon and Mary Widenham, he enlisted in the Knight of Glin's Yeomanry Corps at age 15.
Three years later, he joined the Tarbert Infantry Fencibles, an Irish home service regiment, from which he was recruited into the British Army's 49th Regiment of Foot as a private soldier.
He first fought in the battle in 1799 at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands. He later served as a marine in the Battle of Copenhagen, for which he received the Naval General Service Medal.
Arrival in North America
He went to Canada in 1802, by which time he was a sergeant. He played a key role in the suppression of a near-mutiny at Fort George, Ontario.
In 1806, when he was the regiment's Sergeant Major, his commanding officer, Isaac Brock, made him an officer.
This was extremely unusual at the time, as most officers' commissions were bought. Later the same year, he was appointed regimental adjutant.
In 1809, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
War of 1812
FitzGibbon fought at the Battle of Stoney Creek on 6 June 1813. Three weeks later, he led 50 soldiers in guerrilla-style raids on a large American force that had captured Fort George on the Niagara Peninsula.
It was he who was warned by Laura Secord on 22 June about an impending surprise attack by 500 American troops.
This led to the Battle of Beaver Dams near present-day Thorold, Ontario, where FitzGibbon's force, together with about 400 Mohawk and Ottawa warriors, defeated the Americans and took 462 prisoners.
The victory made FitzGibbon a popular hero, and he was promoted to Captain in the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles.
In 1814, he fought at the Battle of Lundy's Lane. After the war, he remained in Upper Canada and became a public servant and a colonel in the militia.
During the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, FitzGibbon was appointed Acting Adjutant-General of the Militia. He organized and led the forces that defended Toronto from William Lyon Mackenzie's rebel force.
A Freemason from 1822 to 1826, he was deputy provincial grand master, the highest office in Upper Canada.
Later Years and Death
He moved to England in 1847 after the death of his wife, Mary Haley, with whom he had four sons and a daughter. In 1850, he was appointed a Military Knight of Windsor.
He died at Windsor Castle in 1863 and is buried there in the crypt of St. George's Chapel.
In 2003, his descendants donated some of his personal effects, including a signet ring and a ceremonial sword, to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.