The British statesman and general Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester (1724-1808), was one of the ablest British military leaders during the American Revolution. As governor of Quebec, he encouraged Canada's growth into a unified, self-governing nation.

Guy Carleton was born on Sept. 3, 1724, into a distinguished Irish family at Strabane in Tyrone County, Ireland. Entering the army as an ensign at 18, he was a lieutenant colonel 15 years later. In Canada he served under Gen. Jeffrey Amherst at the siege of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, in 1758. A year later, in command of the regiment of grenadiers, he was with Gen. James Wolfe at the Battle of Quebec, where he was promoted to colonel and wounded. In 1761 he was wounded in the siege of Belle Isle, France; the following year he participated in the capture of Havana, Cuba, and was again wounded.

From 1766 to 1770 Carleton was lieutenant governor and acting governor of...