the arrival of Sir James Yeo from England, went with him to Kingston, and concerted the attack on Sacketts Harbour on 27 May. A brilliant attack was made by the British troops—the Americans were already routed—when Prevost, seized with doubt, sounded the signal for retreat. The scheme of invading New York State, in July 1814, was likewise due to Prevost. The Canadian forces had been reinforced by Peninsular veterans; the army and fleet were to co-operate for the reduction of Plattsburg. The attempt ought to have been successful, both by land and sea. But by some error the Confiance was sent into action alone, and Prevost, instead of giving her immediate support, suddenly decided to retreat.
On 21 Jan. 1815 Provost met the new parliament of Lower Canada, and soon announced that peace had been concluded. The assembly proposed to present him with a service of plate of 5,000l. value, ‘in testimony of the country's sense of his distinguished talents, wisdom, and ability.’ The legislative council, however, declined to assent to the bill. In closing the session Prevost announced that he was summoned to England to meet the charges arising out of his conduct before Plattsburg. On 3 April he left amid numerous addresses from the French Canadians. The British section of the population were not so warm in their commendations. He reached England in September, and on learning that he had been incidentally condemned by the naval court, he obtained from the Duke of York permission to be tried in person by court-martial. But the consequent anxiety ruined his health, and he died in London on 5 Jan. 1816, a week before the day fixed for the meeting of the court. He was buried at East Barnet, Hertfordshire.
His brother, Colonel Prevost, still demanded an inquiry, but the judge-advocate decided that it could not be held. Lady Prevost made similar efforts, without result; but at her request the prince regent publicly expressed his sense of Prevost's services, and granted the family additional armorial bearings.
Prevost seems to have been cautious to a fault, wanting in decision, always anticipating the worst; but he was straightforward, ‘amiable, well-intentioned, and honest.’ There seems to be little room for questioning Prevost's success in civil affairs, and he was an efficient soldier while he filled subordinate rank.
He married, 19 May 1789, Catherine Anne, daughter of Major-general John Phipps, R.E., and had a son, George (1804–1893) [q. v.], and two daughters, who died unmarried.
[Army Lists; Ann. Register, 1816; Southey's Chronicles of the West Indies; Christie's Administration of Lower Canada by Sir George Prevost, Quebec, 1818, see esp. the Postscript; Roger's History of Canada, vol. i. Quebec, 1856; Withrow's History of Canada; James's Naval and Military Occurrences of the War of 1812–14; Letter of Veritas, Montreal, 1815; Canadian Inspector, No. 1; Gent. Mag. 1816 i. 183, 1817 i. 83; Some Account of the Public Life of the late Sir George Prevost, &c., from the Quarterly Review of 1822.]
PREVOST, Sir GEORGE (1804–1893), baronet, tractarian, only son of Sir George Prevost (1767–1816) [q. v.], by Catherine Anne, daughter of Major-general John Phipps, was born at Roseau in the island of Dominica on 20 Aug. 1804. He succeeded to the baronetcy on 5 Jan. 1816; matriculated at Oxford, from Oriel College, on 23 Jan. 1821; graduated B.A., taking a second class in literæ humaniores, and a first class in the mathematical school in 1825; proceeded M.A. in 1827; was ordained deacon in 1828, and priest in 1829. Prevost was a pupil and disciple of John Keble, whom he frequently visited at Southrop; there he met Isaac Williams [q. v.], whose sister Jane he married on 18 March 1828. Through life he maintained the cordiality of his relations with his old college friend, Samuel Wilberforce [q. v.], successively bishop of Oxford and Winchester. He was curate to Thomas Keble [q. v.] at Bisley, Gloucestershire, from 1828 to 1834, when he was instituted on 25 Sept. to the perpetual curacy of Stinchcombe in the same county. He was rural dean of Dursley from 1852 to 1866, proctor of the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol from 1858 to 1865, archdeacon of Gloucester from 1865 to 1881, and honorary canon of Gloucester from 1859 until his death at Stinchcombe on 18 March 1893. He was buried in Stinchcombe churchyard on 23 March.
By his wife, who died on 17 Jan. 1853, Prevost had issue two sons: George Phipps (1830–1885), who held a colonel's commission in the army; and Charles, the third baronet (d. 1902).
Prevost, who was retiring by nature and profoundly pious, was an enthusiastic supporter of the Oxford tractarian movement from its inception, and he remained faithful till death to the via media. He contributed to ‘Tracts for the Times,’ and translated the ‘Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. Matthew’ for Dr. Pusey's ‘Library of the Fathers,’ Oxford, 1843, 3 vols. 8vo (American reprint, ed. Schaff, 1888, 8vo).
