John Whitelocke

Colonel John Whitelocke (1757 - December 23, 1833 Beaconsfield, England) He entered the army in 1778 and became colonel in 1793. Whitelocke served in Jamaica and in Saint-Domingue. He was commander of the 500 British troops that landed in Saint-Domingue on September 19, 1793. An unscrupulous character, he offered bribes to French officers who resisted the advance of British troops.

In 1793 the governor of Jamaica received orders to occupy Saint-Domingue, and despatched, on September 9, 1793, an expedition of 500 men under command of Colonel Whitelocke. (Parkinson, p. 74) He landed on September 19 at Jeremie, but was routed in an attack on Tiburon. After receiving re-enforcements, he took St. Marc, Leogane, and Arcahaie, and made a second attack on Tiburon, by which nearly the whole western coast, except Port-au-Prince, became subject to his control. Assisted by all auxiliary force from the Spanish part of the island, he besieged Port de Paix and after the arrival of re-enforcements from Jamaica, occupied Port-au-Prince on June 14, 1794, The British troops will remain in Saint-Domingue until 1798.

Whitelocke was "cashiered when in command in Buenos Aires for being 'deficient in zeal, judgment and personal exertion'." (Parkinson, p. 74)

External link

 * famousamericans.net: John Whitelocke