Madelaine Drohan
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mdrohan.bsky.social
Madelaine Drohan
@mdrohan.bsky.social
Author of He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin's Failure to Annex Canada, out September 30, 2025. Writer. Former foreign correspondent. Senior fellow GSPIA, University of Ottawa. Curious about how the world works.
Visit my website: madelainedrohan.org
Yet success seemed within the Americans’ grasp on Nov. 11, 1775. Troops led by the rebel general, Richard Montgomery, had finally taken Fort St. Jean on the Richelieu River and were nearing the gates of Montreal.
November 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM
#OTD 250 years ago, Canadians were at war with American invaders and each other. American colonists had exported their civil war north, enticing some Canadians to fight with them against the British. Others fought to defend the imperial power. It was a divisive invasion that ultimately failed.
November 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Had a really enjoyable evening discussing my book with the Friends of Lifelong Learning at the Glebe Centre in Ottawa. What a great group!
#cdahistory #cdaus #hedidnotconquer
November 11, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I really enjoyed giving a talk on my book today at the Atwater Library in Montreal. A special thanks to those who came out despite the transit strike.
@dundurnpress.bsky.social #cdahist #cdaus #hedidnotconquer
November 6, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Had a great time at the Toronto launch of my book at Ben McNally Books. My thanks to Meghan Macdonald of @dundurnpress.bsky.social for kicking things off, Rupert and Danielle McNally for hosting, and to all the friends and book lovers who came.
#hedidnotconquer #cdaus #cdapoli
November 4, 2025 at 3:11 AM
I’m looking forward to speaking at the Atwater Library at 12:30 pm on November 6. Montreal plays a big part in the story I tell about Benjamin Franklin wanting to annex Canada. He set the stage for Donald Trump. My book is published by @dundurnpress.bsky.social
#hedidnotconquer #cdahist #cdaus
October 31, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Before Donald Trump in 2025, before James Madison in 1812, Benjamin Franklin had designs on Canada. Find out how Franklin, a scientist, diplomat, trend setter, and writer of fake news, set the stage for Donald Trump.
October 30, 2025 at 6:35 PM
“What think you of a North American Monarchy?” John Adams, one of the founding fathers, asked a friend in October 1775. “Suppose We should appoint a Continental King, and a Continental House of Lords, and a Continental House of Commons, to be annually, or triennially or Septennially elected?”
October 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Did Benjamin Franklin’s failure to annex Canada set the stage for Donald Trump and his talk of the 51st state? I’ll be discussing that and other questions at a Canadian International Council meeting Oct. 21. Open to the public (see poster for details).
#cdaus #cdapoli #cdahist #hedidnotconquer
October 18, 2025 at 1:22 AM
It was standing room only tonight at the Ottawa launch of A Capital Mystery, an anthology of crime stories set in Canada’s capital. So proud of my friend, Nancy Pawlek, and her short story, The Incident in Bytown.
#mystery #books #Ottawa #crimewriters #canada
October 17, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Dropped into #Indigo at the Rideau Centre today. No matter how many books you write, it is a good feeling the first time you see copies on display.
#hedidnotconquer @dundurnpress.bsky.social #cdaus #cdahist
October 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Having a book signing at a pool is slightly unconventional. But book lovers can be found everywhere!

#hedidnotconquer #cdaus #cdahist #dundurnpress
October 3, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I had a wonderful time at the official launch of He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin's Failure to Annex Canada. Thank you to everyone who took the time to come. I am happy to report there was no cake left! A good, Canadian crowd!

#HeDidNotConquer #cdaUS #cdaHist #Dundurn
October 1, 2025 at 9:37 PM
#OTD Sept 25, 1775, citizens of Montreal, including French Canadians and British merchants, repelled an attack by American invaders. The aggressors, who numbered less than 100, included some Canadians who had been promised 15 pence a day plus a share of the booty when they plundered Montreal.
September 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
But Canadians refused. They had been left in the lurch when France refused to honour the full value of its paper currency after its 1760 defeat by British and colonial forces.
The Americans were plagued with money woes throughout their ill-fated invasion.
#HeDidNotConquer
September 19, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The invaders had assumed that Canadians would accept a new paper currency issued by Congress, with its images of harps, wild boars, eagles, and even a beaver gnawing at a tree (the beaver was meant to symbolize the rebels, the tree Britain).
September 19, 2025 at 2:21 PM
#OTD September 19, 1775, rebel leader Philip Schuyler wrote the Continental Congress begging for money. “Where shall I get gold and silver to pay for necessaries for the Army? Paper, of any kind, not having the least currency in Canada.”
September 19, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The American invasion of Canada in 1775 ran into financial difficulties within the first month. Some Canadians were willing to sell the invaders food, but only in exchange for cold, hard cash.

#HeDidNotConquer #cdaUS #cdaHist #Dundurn #skystorians
September 19, 2025 at 2:21 PM
#OTD Sept. 14, 1775, George Washington opened a second front in the invasion of Canada, instructing Colonel Benedict Arnold to lead 1,000 men up the Kennebec River to attack Quebec City. The seat of power in the British colony was vulnerable.
September 14, 2025 at 10:48 AM
#OTD Sept. 6, 1775, American invaders led by General Philip Schuyler approached the British-held Fort St. Jean on the Richelieu River and were fired upon from the fort and attacked on the ground by Mohawks and other First Nations. This was not the welcome they had anticipated. . . .
September 6, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Today marks a key event in Canada-US relations that few Canadians and probably even fewer Americans have heard about. #OTD Sept. 4, 1775, troops from the 13 colonies invaded Canada, a British colony also called the Province of Quebec.

#HeDidNotConquer #cdaUS #cdaHist #Canada250 #BenjaminFranklin
September 4, 2025 at 1:59 PM
#OTD August 27, 1775, the American general preparing to invade Canada told George Washington that the Six Nations (Haudenosaunee Confederacy) would remain neutral during the invasion. They think it is “a family quarrel” and do not want to interfere, wrote General Philip Schuyler.
August 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
“Now, Sir, is the time to carry Canada. It may be done with great ease and little cost, and I have no doubt but the Canadians would join us.” It was bad intelligence.

#HeDidNotConquer #cdaUS #cdapoli #Canada250
#skystorians
August 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
#OTD Aug 14, 1775, American spy John Brown of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, reported on his latest mission to Canada. The French Canadians longed for the American army to invade, Brown told his superiors....
#HeDidNotConquer #cdaUS #cdapoli #Canada250
#skystorians
August 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
It's a wonderful feeling when 5 years of research and writing comes to fruition. The thought that immediately follows is that the work is not done because you now have to promote it. I am grateful for all the help I received along the way.

#HeDidNotConquer #Dundurn #cdaUS #cdnpoli #Canada250
August 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM