Thomas Scott (Orangeman)
| Thomas Scott | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 January 1842 Clandeboye, County Down, Ireland |
| Died | 4 March 1870 (aged 28) Upper Fort Garry, Red River Colony, Rupert's Land |
| Cause of death | Execution by Firing Squad |
| Occupation | Surveyor for Dawson Road Project, Soldier in the Hasting's Battalion of Rifles |
Thomas Scott (1 January 1842 – 4 March 1870) was an Irish Protestant who emigrated to Canada in 1863. While working as a labourer on the "Dawson Road Project", he moved on to Winnipeg where he met John Christian Schultz and fell under the influence of the adherents to the Canadian Party. His political involvement in the Red River Settlement from then on led to his capture at Fort Garry where he was held hostage with others. On 4 March 1870 Scott was marched out of Fort Garry's east gate and was executed on the wall by the provisional government of the Red River Settlement led by Louis Riel. Scott's execution led to the Wolseley Expedition – a military force sent to confront Louis Riel and the Métis at the Red River Settlement, authorized by Sir John A. Macdonald. Thomas Scott's execution highlights a time of severe conflict between settlers and the Métis in Canadian history. Different depictions of Scott and his execution are portrayed in various sources by historians. His execution led to Riel's exile and to his execution for treason in 1885.
Little is known of Thomas Scotts' early years. He was born in the Clandeboye area of County Down, in what is today Northern Ireland. Raised as a Presbyterian, he became an active Orangeman. Scott emigrated to Ontario in 1863. On his arrival at Red River, he worked as a labourer on the "Dawson road" project, connecting the Red River and Lake Superior. However, he took part in a strike in 1869, for which he was fired and convicted of aggravated assault. Scott then moved to Winnipeg, where he met John Christian Schultz and became a supporter of the Canadian Party. Scott backed the annexation of the Red River Settlement to Canada, and the rest of his life revolved around this conflict.
Scott was employed by the Canadian government as a surveyor during the Red River Rebellion. He was first arrested and imprisoned in December 1869 at Upper Fort Garry by Louis Riel and his men while trying to attack the fort along with 34 other volunteers. Thomas Scott had briefly escaped Upper Fort Garry in January with John Christian Schultz and Charles Mair. In February 1870, Scott, alongside several volunteers amassed a rescue party outside John Christian Schultz's house in Kildonan that sought to free any remaining prisoners at Fort Garry. Summarily, the Métis released the prisoners and the rescue party was dispersed. Scott and several volunteers marched to Portage, but passed too close to Fort Garry, where Scott was captured and imprisoned by Riel's garrison once again. Charles Mair and John Christian Schultz travelled through America and later reached Ontario to urge the government for an extensive military expedition to the Red River Settlement. The joint-military operation of the Wolseley Expedition dispatched the Ontario 1st and 60th rifles alongside British troops in May 1870. It has been reported that Thomas Scott suffered severe diarrhea during his second incarceration, which was said to have had a negative effect on both Scott and his captors. During his captivity, Scott was an extraordinarily difficult, opinionated, and verbally abusive individualist who refused to acknowledge his captors' legal authority. It has also been documented that Scott's fellow prisoners had asked that he be removed due to his obnoxious behaviour while in captivity. He was eventually executed for committing insubordination following a trial.
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