
Lord Jeffrey Amherst was a highly decorated military man and an advocate of biological warfare against Indigenous people
Extracted from Jordan Gill · CBC News · Posted: Apr 29, 2017
As an initiative to change the name of Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site on Prince Edwards Island in Canada. is being debated, a researcher weighs in on the history of Jeffery Amherst.
Mi’kmaq elders and the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I. have raised questions about the honouring of Amherst, by naming sites after him — arguing he was not only an enemy of Indigenous people, but worse.
To say Amherst was a decorated military man would be an understatement. He was a Field Marshal in the British Army. He served during the Seven Years’ War in New France or modern day Nova Scotia. He also held the offices of Governor of Quebec as well as Crown Governor of Virginia and was named a Lord.
But scholars have long debated Amherst’s actions during his service, including allegations he advocated the use of biological warfare, through smallpox blankets, to kill Indigenous peoples.
See an example of a scholarly document here.
Continue reading Is it time to disown Lord Jeffrey Amherst?