Editing Isaac Brock (section)

==Early life==
[[File:Guernsey sm02.png|thumb|left|[[St Peter Port]], where Brock was born in 1769.]]

Brock was born at [[St Peter Port]] on the [[Channel Islands|Channel Island]] of [[Guernsey]]. He was the eighth son of John Brock (1729–1777), a former [[midshipman]] in the [[Royal Navy]]. His mother was Elizabeth de Lisle, the daughter of Daniel de Lisle, the [[Bailiff of Guernsey|lieutenant-bailiff of Guernsey]]. The Brocks were an English family who had been established in Guernsey since the sixteenth century. Brock earned a reputation during his early education on Guernsey as an assiduous student, as well as an exceptional swimmer and boxer.{{sfn|Historica Canadiana|2006}} At age eleven, he was sent to school in [[Southampton]], and afterwards to [[Rotterdam]] where he became fluent in [[French language|French]].{{sfn|Stacey|1983}}

Although his formal education ended when he was a teenager, Brock appreciated its importance. As an adult, he spent much time reading in order to broaden his knowledge.{{sfn|Tupper|1847|pp=4-5}} He read many works on [[military tactics]] and [[military science|science]], but also read ancient history and other less practical topics. At the time of his death, he owned a modest library of books, including classic works by [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]], [[Voltaire]], and [[Samuel Johnson]].{{sfn|Wilson|2004}}

Brock kept his reputation as an "unusually tall, robust"{{sfn|Tupper|1847|pp=4-5}} man throughout his life, with an adult height of about {{convert|6|ft|2|in|cm|abbr=on}}. Measurements taken from his uniform show that at his death he had a waist size of {{convert|47|in|cm}}, while the inside brim of his hat measured {{convert|24|in|cm}} in circumference.{{sfn|Malcomson|2004|p=24}} Although Brock was noted as a handsome man who enjoyed the company of women, he never married.{{sfn|Historica Canadiana|2006}}