Bisshopp, Cecil, 1783-1813 : Cecil Bisshopp was born 25 June 1783 at Parham House (West Sussex), England, eldest son of Sir Cecil Bisshopp and Harriet Anne Southwell. He was married on 6 April, 1805 to Lady Charlotte Barbara Townshend, granddaughter of George, Viscount Townshend. He died about 16 July, 1813 and was buried on 17 July in Stamford (Niagara Falls), Upper Canada.
Bisshopp devoted his life to service in the British military. As a young man, he joined the prestigious 1st Foot Guards and was commissioned ensign on 20 September, 1799. A promotion to lieutenant on 16 October, 1800 carried with it the rank of captain in the army. On September 3, 1803, he exchanged back into the 1st Guards. Promoted brevet major on 1 January, 1812, he briefly served as major in the 98th Foot in the spring of the same year. In 1802, he had served as private secretary to Rear Admiral Sir Borlase Warren at St. Petersburg(Leningrad, USSR) and participated in the expedition to La Coruna, Spain, and Walcheren, Netherlands, in January and July 1809. He was a member of Parliament for Newport from 1811 to 1812. Appointed inspecting field officer of militia in Upper Canada on 6 February, 1812 with the local rank of lieutenant-colonel, Bisshopp sailed for the Canadas three months after the outbreak of the War of 1812.
At first, Bisshopp was apprehensive about his appointment in Upper Canada. In addition to inspecting the Canadian militia, Bisshopp also was given the responsibility for commanding the regular troops and militia stationed between Chippewa and Fort Erie. On 28 November, 1812, Bisshopp stopped a large American force at Frenchman Creek. The next several months were quiet, but the Americans commenced an offensive along the Niagara frontier in the spring of 1813 with the capture of Fort George (Niagara-on-the-Lake). Bisshopp withdrew his troops from Fort Erie to join the main force at Burlington Heights (Hamilton). During two battles against the Americans on 6 June, 1813, Bisshopp commanded the reserve. Later in the month, he played a nominal role in the Indian victory at Beaver Dams (Thorold), an episode usually associated with the heroine Laura Secord.
By mid-summer of 1813, the British had pushed the invaders back to Fort George. Here the Americans assumed a defensive posture, thus allowing the British to make occasional forays across the Niagara River. Bisshopp was chosen to lead one such raid against Black Rock (Buffalo), NY In the early morning of 11 July his force of regulars and militia stormed the fort. The raid was a success, however Bisshopp decided to remove 123 barrels of salt, a precious commodity, causing a critical delay which allowed the Americans time to regroup. They attacked the British and Bisshopp was wounded. After lingering for three to five days, Bisshopp died.
