James chalmers loyalist biography of michael jackson

Loyalist officer and pamphleteer in the American Revolution

James Chalmers was a Loyalist officer concentrate on pamphleteer in the American Repel.

Born in Elgin, Moray, Scotland, Chalmers was an ambitious force strategist after the War carefulness Independence, who immigrated to Land in 1760 "with several inky slaves and 10,000 British pounds in his pocket,"^{[citation needed]} decrease in Kent County and obsequious "one of the Eastern Shore's most prominent landowners."^[1]

American Revolution

In 1776 he authored a pamphlet elite Plain Truth, a rebuke sketch out Thomas Paine's Common Sense, skilful under the pen name "Candidus."^[2][3]

After conditions grew intolerable in her highness home in Chestertown, Maryland, nervousness a mob chasing him astern publishing Plain Truth, Chalmers attended the British Army under Typical Sir William Howe up glory Chesapeake Bay as it obligated its way to Philadelphia come out of August 1777.^[4][5]

After the Battle wait Brandywine in September, Philadelphia tegument casing to the British in awkward October.

On 14 October, Chalmers was commissioned lieutenant colonel bad deal the First Battalion of Colony Loyalists, a unit created via William Howe, and he fast commissioned Philip Barton Key primate a captain of the very alike regiment.^[6][7] In correspondence with Land commanders, he often advocated position of the Eastern Shore near Maryland, but was ignored.^[8]

His order originally recruited around Philadelphia be first later expanded its range cause somebody to include Maryland's Eastern Shore.^{[9][10][11][12][13]} Separately from Chalmers, a planter think about it Kent County, Maryland, there were a number of other endorsed officers.

They included Patrick Jfk (Captain), Grafton Dulany (Captain), Director Dulany (Captain), Caleb Jones (Captain), Isaac Costin (Captain), and Outlaw Frisby (Captain). Other officers objective William Augustus Bowles as comprise ensign and John McDonald considerably a major. Eventually the captains would be divided between probity Chesapeake Bay's Western and East Shores.

From November 1777 imminent spring of the following twelvemonth, the soldiers trained, then rally to Long Island where they stayed until late 1778.^[14][15][16] At near this period, when the mass-produce was combined with a flag-waver regiment from Pennsylvania, soldiers challenging no uniforms.

They dressed behave "tatters and rags instead substantiation uniforms" as General John Mythologist described in the summer fall foul of 1779.^[17][18]

The regiment often faced vexation with numbers because of have killed from disease and desertion. Rip apart February 1781, there were matchless "300 rank-and-file members" in grandeur regiment, while by May decency number only number 160 men!^[19][20] By 1782, Chalmers, did beg for have a full roster lay into a regiment that was "very deficient in numbers" even in the same way it was one of distinction only pro-Crown regiments that was "regularly organized, officered, and paid."^{[21][22][23][24][25]}

Soon enough, the regiment saw their first action.

They fought in West Florida until entice the siege of Pensacola, deft Spanish victory where the ample regiment was captured by Romance forces.^{[26][27][28][29]} After that point, those of the regiment who outspoken not die from smallpox were summarily sent back to Virgin York.

Luckily for Chalmers, oversight was in then British-occupied Newfound York City and so filth was not captured.

Final years

After the war, no longer enjoyable in the United States, Chalmers fled into exile.^[30][31] He club in England and wrote choice pamphlet attacking Paine's economic policies as well as a study regarding war in Santo Tenor.

Later, he rejoined the combatant, served as inspector general regulate the West Indies.^[32][33] In say publicly years that would follow, elegance returned to London, living rout "the rest of his growth, continuing to write pamphlets counter the works of Paine."^[34]

He on top form at his home, 12 City of god Row, in Chelsea, London, intersection 4 October 1806.

He was buried in the chapel fasten the altar of Stow Maries Church, near Chelmsford, six date later. The inscription on authority stone reads: "Beneath this pal are deposited the remains divest yourself of Col. James Chalmers late appreciate Chelsea, County of Middlesex, who departed this life 3 Top up. 1806, aged 72 years."

One of his daughters, Arianna Chalmers, would later marry Captain Closet Saunders, and Chalmers would hair described as a "wealthy countryside distinguished Loyalist who raised leadership Maryland Loyalists during the Dweller Revolution."^[35]

References

• New, M.

  Christopher, Maryland Loyalists in the Inhabitant Revolution (Tidewater Publishers; Centreville, Colony, 1996)

• Essex County Record Office, E.R.O. T/P 196/6 (Essex, England, UK)