(1750 - 1780)
Regiment arrived at Quebec in 1773. He served in the light infantry
company throughout the Quebec campaign during 1775 and was
captured with the bulk of the Regiment at the Siege of Fort St. John
in November.
Exchanged in 1776, Andre joined the large British Army commanded
by General Sir William Howe based in New York City. He
participated in Howe's capture of Philadelphia in 1777.
In 1778, Andre became the Adjutant General in the army staff of
Howe's successor, General Sir Henry Clinton. In that role he began
to undertake intelligence work, maintaining a network of spies and
interrogating prisoners of war.
In 1780, Andre became an intelligence operative when he negotiated
the surrender of the fortifications at West Point, New York, with the
rebel general Benedict Arnold. Captured by militiamen while carrying
a message to Arnold, Andre was tried by court martial by order of
the rebel general George Washington. Convicted, Andre was
sentenced to death and hanged on 2 October, 1780. He was thirty
years old.
By coincidence, more portraits of Major Andre exist than probably
any other junior officer in the British Army of the period. Another
portrait may be seen on the Uniforms page of this website.
