William Caldwell (ranger)

William Caldwell (c. 1750 – 20 February 1822) was an Irish-born Loyalist military officer and a colonial official in the British Indian Department. He fought against the Patriots during the American Revolutionary War, serving with Butler's Rangers based at Fort Niagara and Fort Detroit. After the war, together with other Loyalists, Caldwell was granted land in Upper Canada (now Ontario). He became a farmer and merchant, and is credited with the founding of the New Settlement east of the mouth of the Detroit River. During the War of 1812 he was authorized to recruit a unit of mounted volunteers known as Caldwell's Rangers that saw action at the Battle of the Thames. Caldwell briefly served as Deputy Superintendent of Indians for the Western District beginning in 1814.