In 1761 he was made a Knight of the Bath, in 1763 he returned to England, and in 1776 he was created a Peer. With the rest of his career, his courageous opposition to the wishes of the king, his appointment as Commander-in-Chief, his support of the war with the revolted colonies in America, his action in the Gordon Riots, and his appointment as Field Marshal we have little immediate concern. He went back to live at the family estate at Riverhead, which he called after the scene of his Canadian triumph, Montreal. He was created Lord Amherst with remainder to his nephew in 1788, and died in 1797 at the age of eighty.
We return now to General William Amherst, his brother[1]. He had accompanied Sir Jeffery to Canada, and brought back the news of the capture of Louisburg. Both brothers had a passion for botany, and while in America collected the seeds of many trees and shrubs which were then little known in Great Britain. These were planted in 1759 in the garden at Riverhead in the part which was afterwards known as the American wood. During this time of absence in America, the old house which used to be called Brook's Place was pulled down, and the new mansion finished under the new title. In 1766 Lieutenant-General William Amherst married Elizabeth Patterson. 'She was a very pretty and accomplished woman, much beloved by her brothers-in-law.' William Pitt,
- ↑ General William Amherst conquered Newfoundland and was for several years Adjutant-General to the Forces.
