I first came across an account of this character in an American Heritage Magazine in 1963 - 64. His correct name, by the way, was Captain Robert Stobo. He was a Scottish career officers, stationed in North America (in the colony of Virginia). He was captured in a skirmish and taken to a prison up in the French colony of Quebec. Due to his rank and manners, Stobo was given permission to roam about the city of Quebec and it's environs (the French, presumably, felt that Stobo would not make an attempt to escape because Quebec was on a mountain, and the colony was over 1,000 miles from Virginia). Stobo surprised them - he actually fled, and successfully made it to Virginia.
His achievement made him the great celebrity of the moment in London. But while he was being wined and dined, he was also giving his opinion about the defenses of the town of Quebec. And here comes the mystery that so-far has not been cleared up. Did Stobo meet with General James Wolfe, who would campaign against the French in Quebec in 1759? Wolfe eventually defeated them and their leader, the Marquis of Montcalm, who (with Wolfe) died in the battle. It sounds likely that Stobo did meet Wolfe, and told him of the paths from Quebec to the Plains of Abraham outside the city, which controlled the fate of the city should the defenders get beaten there. It is very possible that the key to Wolfe's victory was given to him by Captain Robert Stobo.
Stobo was immortalized in the last novel of Scottish author Tobias Smollett, THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER, in the character of the North American traveler and warrior, Captain Lishmahayo. Stobo's own end was a tragic one. In 1774, in a fit of despondency, Stobo committed suicide in his barracks in London.
His achievement made him the great celebrity of the moment in London. But while he was being wined and dined, he was also giving his opinion about the defenses of the town of Quebec. And here comes the mystery that so-far has not been cleared up. Did Stobo meet with General James Wolfe, who would campaign against the French in Quebec in 1759? Wolfe eventually defeated them and their leader, the Marquis of Montcalm, who (with Wolfe) died in the battle. It sounds likely that Stobo did meet Wolfe, and told him of the paths from Quebec to the Plains of Abraham outside the city, which controlled the fate of the city should the defenders get beaten there. It is very possible that the key to Wolfe's victory was given to him by Captain Robert Stobo.
Stobo was immortalized in the last novel of Scottish author Tobias Smollett, THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER, in the character of the North American traveler and warrior, Captain Lishmahayo. Stobo's own end was a tragic one. In 1774, in a fit of despondency, Stobo committed suicide in his barracks in London.