DID A BUDLEIGH RESIDENT HELP TO CREATE THE USA? (SUMMER 2026)

 

The General and the President: did Washington owe his life to Simcoe?

As reported in the Winter 2025 edition of The Conant Courier, we know that General John Graves Simcoe wrote the first-ever documented Valentine in America. But was he also responsible for saving the life of the man who became America’s first President?  

Cartoon of Simcoe by Patrick Corrigan, Toronto Star  

Sir Walter Raleigh was mentioned in the Autumn 2025 issue of The Conant Courier as inspiring the founders of the United States of America. Just a mile or so from Raleigh’s birthplace of East Budleigh, a couple of centuries later, lived another important historical figure. 

You might say that this individual could be seen as the U.S.A.’s saviour. For General Simcoe, whose summer residence was on Fore Street Hill in in Budleigh Salterton, is alleged to have saved the life of George Washington during the Battle of Brandywine. This was one of the grimmest encounters of the American Revolution on 11 September 1777, when 250 Patriots were killed, 600 wounded and 400 captured. 

 John Graves Simcoe was born at Cotterstock, near Oundle in Northamptonshire, England. He entered the British Army, and by July 1776 had been promoted captain. 

 He would go on to become lieutenant governor of Upper Canada from 1791 until 1796, and is seen by many Canadians as a founding figure in Canadian history. It was during his administration that the sixteen-member Legislative Assembly passed the 1793 Act Against Slavery, the first legislation to limit slavery in the British Empire. ‘The principles of the British Constitution do not admit of that slavery which Christianity condemns,’ stated Simcoe in an address to the Assembly. ‘The moment I assume the Government of Upper Canada under no modification will I assent to a law that discriminates by dishonest policy between natives of Africa, America, or Europe.’ 

A statutory holiday was established in honour of Simcoe by the Toronto City Council in 1869. Sir Walter Raleigh was mentioned in the Autumn 2025 issue of The Conant Courier as inspiring the founders of the United States of America. Just a mile or so from Raleigh’s birthplace of East Budleigh, a couple of centuries later, lived another important historical figure. Following his service in North America, as Lieutenant General, he was appointed Commander of the West of England Army at a time when the country was being threatened with invasion by Napoleon. His summer residence overlooking the sea on Fore Street Hill in Budleigh Salterton is now called Simcoe House

There is no documented evidence that Simcoe saved Washington’s life, but the legend is well established both in Canada and the UK. Speaking in a debate about the Simcoe Day Act before the Ontario Legislative Assembly on 28 September 2017, the Canadian politician Paul Miller, seen here, spoke about Simcoe as follows: 

 ‘His impact on life at the end of the 18th century in Upper Canada makes him a character that is worth learning about. There was one that stood out in my mind especially. It might be more of a legend than a fact, but I think it’s still worth talking about. During the American Revolution, Simcoe fought in the British army. At the time, the British were fighting the patriots of the 13 colonies. These patriots had wanted the 13 colonies to be independent from Britain. During the Battle of Brandywine, Simcoe commanded the 40th battalion. At the end of the battle, Simcoe stopped his soldiers from firing on three fleeing patriots, and it is said that George Washington was one of those three soldiers. This made me think that, along with Ontario, maybe the United States should be celebrating Simcoe Day. After all, he did end up being the Founding Father, and we helped him escape from the Battle of Brandywine.’ 

Simcoe died on 26 October 1806, aged only 54. He was buried at Wolford Chapel on the Simcoe family estate near Honiton, Devon, not far from Budleigh Salterton. The Chapel is now publicly owned by the Canadian province of Ontario and flies the Flag of Canada. 

 Images: Wikipedia