Editing Isaac Brock (section)

===Early career===

Brock joined the [[8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot]] on 8 March 1785 with the rank of [[ensign (rank)|ensign]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=12627|page=121|date=5 March 1785}}</ref>  As was common at the time, Brock's commission was [[Sale of commissions|purchased]] for him by his family. When Brock joined the 8th Foot, its commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel [[Arent DePeyster]] who had served in North America during the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] as commandant of [[Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit|Fort Detroit]], and who had substantial experience negotiating with Britain's Indigenous allies.{{sfn|Riley|2011}} On 16 January 1790, Brock purchased the rank of [[first lieutenant|lieutenant]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13166|pages=25–26|date=12 January 1790}}</ref> and later that year raised his own [[company (military)|company]] of men.<ref name=ODNB>[[#Sweetman2004|Sweetman (2004)]]</ref> As a result, he obtained a commission as [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] of an [[Independent Company|Independent Company of Foot]] on 27 January 1791,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13278|page=63|date=29 January 1791}}</ref> but transferred to the [[49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot|49th (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot]] on 15 June 1791.{{sfn|Stacey|1983}}

At the time of Brock's transfer, the 49th Foot was stationed in [[Barbados]] in the [[West Indies]]. His nephew and biographer, [[Ferdinand Brock Tupper]], asserts that shortly after Brock arrived in Barbados, a "professional dueller" forced a match on him. As the one being challenged Brock had his choice of terms, and he insisted that they use pistols. His friends were shocked as Brock was a large target and his opponent an expert shot. Brock, however, refused to change his mind. When the duellist arrived at the field, he asked Brock to decide how many paces they would take. Brock insisted that the duel would take place not at the usual range, but at handkerchief distance (i.e., close range). The duellist declined and was subsequently forced out of the regiment. This contributed to Brock's popularity and reputation among his fellow officers, as this duellist had a formidable reputation and was regarded as a bully.<ref>[[#refTupper1847|Tupper (1847)]] pp. 5–6</ref>

Several months after Brock's arrival, the regiment was ordered to Jamaica. In 1793, Brock fell victim to yellow fever and became seriously ill. He did not fully recover until he returned home to Guernsey on leave. After regaining his strength, he became involved in recruiting efforts and the training of volunteer companies raised for home defence.{{sfn|Riley|2011}} Brock purchased his [[major (United Kingdom)|majority]] on 27 June 1795,.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13790|pages=659–660|date=23 June 1795}}</ref> He rejoined the 49th Foot in the summer of 1796 when the regiment returned from the West Indies.{{sfn|Riley|2011}}