Thomas Scott (Orangeman)

Thomas Scott
Born	(1842-01-01)1 January 1842 Clandeboye, County Down, Ireland
Died	4 March 1870(1870-03-04) (aged 28) Upper Fort Garry, Red River Colony, Rupert's Land
Cause of death	Execution by firing squad
Occupation(s)	Surveyor for Dawson Road Project, Soldier in the Hasting's Battalion of Rifles

Thomas Scott (1 January 1842 – 4 March 1870) was an Irish Protestant who emigrated to Canada in 1863.^[1] While working as a labourer on the "Dawson Road Project", he moved on to Winnipeg where he met John Christian Schultz and fell under the influence of the Canadian Party. His political involvement in the Red River Settlement from then on led to his capture at Fort Garry where he was held hostage with others. On 4 March 1870 Scott was marched out of Fort Garry's east gate and was executed on the wall by the provisional government of the Red River Settlement led by Louis Riel.^[2]

Scott's execution led to the Wolseley Expedition – a military force said to be sent to protect Canada from American annexation, but widely believed to confront Riel and the Métis at the Red River Settlement, authorized by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald. Scott's execution highlights a time of severe conflict between settlers and the Métis in Canadian history.^[3] His execution led to the exile of Riel and to Riel's own execution for treason in 1885.