During the War of 1812, distinguished leaders on both sides shaped campaigns that had dramatic effects on border communities around the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River, even as their ranks and commands changed frequently, they celebrated successes and failures, disagreed with each other, and saw some rise to greater fame while others fell into disgrace. The British, while focused on defeating Napoleon in Europe and defending Canada from repeated American attacks, were ultimately successful, and Canada remained part of the British Empire until 1867. Sir George Prevost became Governor General of Canada in 1811 at age 44; conservative and cautious, he did not work well with the Royal Navy, successfully defended Canada, returned to England in 1815 to face court martial, and died before his trial convened. Sir Gordon Drummond, appointed in 1813 at age 41 to command the British Army in Upper Canada, was competent and aggressive, attacking Oswego, capturing Fort Niagara, burning Buffalo, fighting to a draw at Lundy's Lane, and failing to recapture Fort Erie. Sir James Lucas Yeo, a former frigate captain, became Commodore commanding on the lakes in 1813 at age 31; he unsuccessfully attacked Sackets Harbor, succeeded at Oswego, and raided several communities along the south shore of Lake Ontario. The Americans intended to conquer Canada, but repeated plans failed because of poor leadership, and by the time their leaders got organized, British victory over Napoleon freed thousands of reinforcements for the war in America. Henry Dearborn, a Revolutionary War Colonel, Congressman, and Secretary of War, became Major General commanding the United States Army in upstate New York in 1812 at age 61. John Armstrong, a former Senator, Minister to France, and Brigadier General, became Secretary of War at age 54, mismanaged the attack on Montreal in 1813, and was blamed for the burning of Washington in 1814 and forced to resign. Jacob Brown first served as a militia Captain in 1807 and became an army Major General in 1814 at age 39; he fought the British five times during the war and never lost a battle. Isaac Chauncey became Commodore commanding on the Great Lakes at age 40; a superb administrator but ineffective combat commander, he never forced the British into a decisive battle. Melancthon Woolsey commanded on Lake Ontario from 1808 at age 28 until relieved by Isaac Chauncey in 1812, and as Master Commandant replaced Chauncey in 1815. James Wilkinson, a Revolutionary War veteran and the army's senior officer from 1800 to 1812, replaced Dearborn as Major General commanding in upstate New York in 1813 at age 56 and lost battles at Crysler's Farm and Lacolle Mills.