Major Thomas Fortye (b. c. 1783, Toronto, Ontario – 22 November, Halifax, Nova Scotia) fought in the French Revolutionary War and was injured in the Battle of Mandora. He led various Veteran Battalions, was the Lieutenant Governor of Shetland and eventually settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He married the niece of Sir Colin Campbell. The Scots Magazine, Volume 71 He was a Barrack Master. He retired to Halifax in April 1834.
Career
Major Fortye joined the 8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot during French Revolutionary War. Major Fortye served in Holland (1794),p. 73 Africa and America; also in Egypt, 1801. He lost his arm in the Battle of Mandora, for which he received a pension.p. 77
He then led various Veteran Battalions: 1st Royal Veteran Battalion (by 1805);British Regiments and the Men Who Led Them 1793-1815: Royal Veteran, Reserve, and Garrison Battalions By Steve Brown 6th Royal Veteran Battalion (by April 1807);RIMI, p. 382RCMI Test, p. 36 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion;London Gazette, p. 2086 7th Royal Veteran Battalion (by 1 Nov. 1819)Acadian RecorderBefore 1806, enlistment was for life: it was ended only by being killed or by being so broken and worn out that the soldier became a Chelsea Pensioner, either at the Royal Hospital or as an out-pensioner living at home. Between 1804 and 1820, 13 royal garrison battalions were raised, taking into service army pensioners and invalids. They enabled the more able-bodied soldiers to do the fighting.
He married Jane Athole Gordon Campbell, daughter of John Campbell, of Melfort, niece of Colin Campbell (British Army officer, born 1776)) at Fort George (1808)
He then held the appointments of Barrack-master in Dublin, Guernsey (1820-1835), and Halifax (March 1835 - 1837), Nova Scotia.The United Service Journal, Part 1, March 1835, p. 424Family Tree He is buried in the Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia).
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