Thomas Scott
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- For Thomas Scott, the American politician, see: Thomas Scott (politician). Also see: Tom Scott.
Thomas Scott (c. 1842 – 1870) was an Irish-born Canadian and Orangeman who was arrested while attempting to overthrow the provisional government of the Red River Settlement during the Red River Rebellion of 1870. While imprisoned Scott constantly threatened and insulted guards, and threatened that he would assassinate Louis Riel upon gaining his freedom. Scott made an attempt to escape but was recaptured by Riel's men and was summarily executed for committing insubordination.
Charles Boulton's Memoirs of the North West Rebellions cites Métis leader John Bruce's claim that only two bullets from the firing squad actually hit Scott, wounding him once in the left shoulder, and once in the upper chest. A man stepped forward and discharged his pistol close to Scott's head, but the bullet only penetrated the upper part of the left cheek and came out somewhere near the cartilage of the nose. Still not dead, Scott was placed in a kind of coffin, from which he was later reported to cry:
- "For God's sake take me out of here or kill me."
Though relatively unknown during his lifetime, Scott's death made him a martyr. He had always been contemptuous and violent, having been convicted of violence and assault when he, leading a band of his co-workers, almost drowned his employer over the issue of a payrise.
Scott's execution led to outrage in Ontario, and was largely responsible for prompting the Wolseley Expedition, which forced Louis Riel, now branded a murderer, to flee the settlement.
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online (http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=38817)Template:Canada-bio-stub