Editing John Clitherow (section)

== Military career ==

Clitherow enlisted in the [[British Army]] as an [[ensign (rank)|ensign]] in 1799.  He served in the Egyptian campaign of 1801, an expedition to Germany in 1805, and an expedition to the Netherlands in 1809.  He participated in the [[Peninsular War]] from 1810 to 1815, being wounded twice.  He was promoted to colonel in 1821, and to major-general in 1830.<ref>[http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/patrimoine/anciens-parlementaires/clitherow-john-113.html "John Clitherow (1782-1852)", Québec Dictionary of Parliamentary Biography, from 1764 to the present],</ref>

In 1838, Clitherow was posted to [[British North America]], to serve as commanding officer of the military district of Montreal. He was accompanied by his son, who served as his ''aide-de-camp''.  Clitherow arrived in Montreal in March, 1838, shortly after the [[Lower Canada Rebellion]] had broken out in late 1837.

He served as an advisor to [[John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham|Lord Durham]] as a member of the [[Special Council of Lower Canada|Special Council]] that administered [[Lower Canada]] following the rebellion.

When the second rebellion broke out Clitherow commanded 3,000 regulars that marched on rebel headquarters.  He also presided over [[court martial|courts martial]] that prosecuted the rebels.

In 1841, he was transferred to [[Canada West]] to command British forces there.