Henry Gladwin

Henry Gladwin was born in 1732 (or 1730) in Derbyshire, England. In 1753, Gladwin became a lieutenant in Colonel Dunbar's regiment. In 1755, he was a Lieutenant in the 48th Infantry Regiment. In 1757, he was made captain of the same (Farmer says the 80th regiment). In 1759, Gladwin was promoted to major by General Jeffrey Amherst who sent him to relieve Niagara in 1760. He served in the 80th regiment until June 22, 1761. The following September, Gladwin arrived in Detroit where he fell ill. His illness caused him to return to England where, on March 30, 1762, Gladwin married Frances Beridge. The couple had three children, Mary and Henry, who died as infants, and Martha who was born in 1785.

Gladwin returned to New France in 1762. In July of the same, he became the third commandant of Fort Detroit under British rule. Much of Gladwin's time at Fort Detroit was taken up by the Pontiac seige.

In 1764, Gladwin left Detroit for England. Farmer (The History of Detroit and Michigan - Biographical Edition) says it is not known if he ever returned to America. Stark (City of Destiny, p. 63) says that he "arrived in Detroit September 3, 1781, with 300 soldiers".

Gladwin died on June 22, 1794 (or 1791) and is buried in the Wingerworth Churchyard in Derby, England.