Sherbrooke, John Coape, Sir, 1764-1830 : Sir John Coape Sherbrooke was baptized on April 29, 1764 in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, England, the son of William Sherbrooke (Coape) and Sarah Sherbrooke, and died on February 14, 1830 in Calverton, Nottinghamshire. He is buried in nearby Oxton.
John Coape Sherbrooke began his military career in the British army on December 7, 1780, enlisting as an ensign in the 4th Foot. Within a year he was promoted to lieutenant, and in 1783 became a captain in the 85th Foot, followed by the 33rd Foot in 1784. During this time he served both in England and Sydney, Cape Breton. Following a relatively quiet period in his career, the start of the French Revolutionary War in 1792 saw Sherbrooke promoted to major in the 33rd Foot in September of 1793, and lieutenant-colonel in May 1794, travelling to Ostend to join the Flanders campaign. Returning home in 1795, Sherbrooke embarked with his regiment for India in April 1796. In 1798, while still in India, he was promoted to colonel, taking part in the Mysore War in 1799. Suffering from recurring ill health, he returned to England in January 1800 to recover, until the Napoleonic Wars broke out in 1803, at which time he took command of the 4th Battalion of Reserve, stationed at Norman Cross.
In January of 1805, Sherbrooke was promoted to major-general and was sent to Sicily in June, where in February of 1807 he became commander of the Sicilian Regiment. In May 1807 he was sent to Egypt on a brief diplomatic mission, and then in early 1808 he assumed temporary command of all British troops in Sicily. By May 1809, he was transferred to the 68th Foot, serving in the Peninsular campaign of the Napoleonic Wars as lieutenant-general, second in command to General Arthur Wellesley. In September 1809, Sherbrooke was made a Knights Companion of the Order of Bath in recognition of his exploits in the battles of Oporto and Talavera. Soon after, suffering from ill health again, he returned to England in May of 1810 to recuperate at Cheltenham.
On June 8, 1811, he embarked on a new phase in his career as colonial administrator and commander of the forces in the Atlantic provinces; he was promoted to lieutenant-general and then appointed lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, his commission dated August 19, 1811. Prior to leaving for Nova Scotia, he married Katherine (Katherina) Pyndar at Areley Kings, England. Together they left Portsmouth on September 8, arriving in Halifax on October 16.
On June 18, 1812, war was declared by the United States against Britain. The majority of Sherbrooke's time as Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia was spent ensuring the colony's defence. They were ill-prepared for war, with limited military resources and poorly-equipped fortifications that Sherbrooke attempted to improve. Nevertheless, he did achieve some key triumphs during the war, including the capture of the USS Chesapeake by HMS Shannon in June of 1813, which was the first major victory in the naval war for the British. In addition, in 1814 Sherbrooke led an expeditionary force that captured Castine, subduing the region between the Penobscot River and the St. Croix. The occupation of this area eventually yielded customs revenues that were used to finance a military library in Halifax and found Dalhousie College (later university).
With the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814, the War of 1812 came to a close. Sherbrooke remained Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and was able to focus on the civil administration of the province. On April 10, 1816, Sherbrooke was commissioned governor-in-chief of British North America, which required a move to Quebec. During his time there, he won the confidence and respect of colonists across political parties by avoiding factional politics, displaying tolerance and fair-mindedness.
On February 6, 1818, Sherbrooke suffered a stroke and decided to resign. The Duke of Richmond succeeded him as the Governor General, and Sherbrooke left for England in August 1818. He lived at Calverton, Nottinghamshire, until his death in 1830.
