Major Adam Charles Muir (1770 – 11 May 1829) was an officer in the British Army, who played a significant but little-known role in the Anglo-American War of 1812.

Early life

Muir was born in Scotland. The date is not definitely known; it may have been 1766 or 1770.

Military career

Early service, promotions

He enlisted as a private soldier in the

41st Regiment of Foot The 41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1719. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot to form the Welch Regiment in 1881. History Early hist ...

in 1778. He was evidently well-educated and very quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a

Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

in only five months and later Sergeant-Major, and being commissioned as an

Adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

in 1793. He became an Ensign shortly afterwards, and was promoted to lieutenant the next year. He served with the regiment in the West Indies.

Arrival in Canada, marriage, further promotion

In 1799, the regiment was posted to Canada. In 1801, Muir married Mary Elizabeth Alexowina Bender in Montreal. The couple would eventually have ten children. Muir was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in 1804. In 1811, the regiment, noted by Major-General Isaac Brock as being one of the steadiest units available in Canada, was sent to Upper Canada.

War of 1812

In 1812, when war with America broke out, Muir was in charge of the detachment of the regiment at Amherstburg. In this part of the province, there were few British troops, but large numbers of

Indians Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

inspired by the Shawnee leader

Tecumseh Tecumseh ( ; October 5, 1813) was a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States onto Native American lands. A persuasive orator, Tecumseh traveled widely, forming a Native American confederacy and ...

aided the British. Muir was present at the Battle of Brownstown where Indians under Tecumseh routed an American detachment and captured vital despatches. Shortly afterwards, he commanded British troops and Indians at the Battle of Maguaga. Muir's troops were forced to retreat, but rallied, and the Americans withdrew without accomplishing their mission which was to clear a route for supplies to reach their army at Detroit. Muir was wounded at Maguaga, but recovered to lead the main body of the 41st at the Siege of Detroit. Later in the year, Muir commanded another detachment sent to aid the Indians attacking Fort Wayne, Indiana. The attack failed, but Muir retreated successfully to Detroit. During the following year, he took part in the Battles of Frenchtown, Fort Meigs and

Fort Stephenson Fort Stephenson (first known as "Fort Sandusky") was built in the early 1800s on the west side of the lower Sandusky River. It was the site in 1813 of an American victory in the Battle of Fort Stephenson during the War of 1812. The town that lat ...

. He was one of several officers who became critical of the leadership of the commander of the division, Major General

Henry Procter Henry Procter or Proctor may refer to: * Henry Procter (politician) (1883–1955), British politician * Henry H. Proctor (1868–1933), minister of the First Congregational Church (Atlanta) * Henry Proctor (rower) (1929–2005), American rower * He ...

. Finally, he was taken prisoner at the

Battle of Moraviantown The Battle of the Thames , also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was an American victory in the War of 1812 against Tecumseh's Confederacy and their United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, British allies. It took place on October 5, 1813 ...

, when the by now starving and demoralised 41st Regiment gave way before a charge of Kentucky mounted riflemen. After some months in captivity, Muir was released by an exchange of prisoners. He was promoted

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

in 1814, and was appointed to command the militia in the Grand River district on the Niagara Peninsula, and played a small part in the

Battle of Malcolm's Mills The Battle of Malcolm's Mills was the last battle of the War of 1812 fought in the Canadas. A force of American cavalry, mounted troops overran and scattered a force of Canadian militia. The battle was fought on November 6, 1814, near the villa ...

Post-war activities

After the war, the 41st returned to Britain. Muir was crippled by a fall from a horse in Ireland in 1816. He resigned from the Army two years later and returned to take up land in Lower Canada. He was forced to sell his farm and retired to an invalid hospital at William Henry, where he died in 1829, leaving large debts.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Muir, Adam 1829 deaths 41st Regiment of Foot soldiers 41st Regiment of Foot officers British Army personnel of the War of 1812 1770 births Immigrants to Lower Canada Scottish emigrants to pre-Confederation Quebec War of 1812 prisoners of war held by the United States