George Monro

"Mere survival is not enough. Full bellies, warm clothing... Freedom from want is the greatest freedom of all."

―George Monro, regarding his dream for the Colonies, 1756.

George Monro (1700 – 1757) was a Colonel in the British Army during the Seven Years' War, and a member of the British and Colonial Rites of the Templar Order.

After being sent to the British colonies in America by Grand Master Reginald Birch to assist Lawrence Washington, Monro sought to increase the Templars' influence in the colonies, recruiting the likes of Christopher Gist and Jack Weeks into the Order. He also worked to improve the livelihoods of the colonies' general populace, but faced difficulties due to the presence of Assassin-affiliated gangs and the outbreak of the Seven Years' War.

In 1756, Monro rescued the former Assassin Shay Cormac after he had been left for dead by his Brotherhood. Sensing Shay's potential, Monro introduced him to the Templar ideology and acted as his mentor until his death in November 1757 at the hands of the Assassin Liam O'Brien.

Biography

Early life

"I am making arrangements to transfer one of my agents to the colonies. His name is George Monro. Although he is your better in every way, he will be your subordinate as you are the expert on that part of the world. However, he is there to solve your problems. Make good use of him."

―Reginald Birch in a letter to Lawrence Washington, 1750.

George Monro was born in Clonfin, County Longford, Ireland, to a Scottish military family. His father was Colonel George Munro, famous for his victory at the Battle of Dunkeld in 1689. Monro became a lieutenant in Otway's Regiment in 1718, and was later inducted into the British Rite of the Templar Order.

By 1750, Monro had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Around this time, Grand Master Reginald Birch had become frustrated with Lawrence Washington's lack of progress in the American Colonies and decided to send Monro to work with Washington, stating that while the Colonel was to be his subordinate, he was still his better in every way.

After the deaths of Washington, Samuel Smith and James Wardrop at the hands of the Assassins, Monro worked alongside Haytham Kenway, who eventually became the first Grand Master of the Colonial Templars. In 1751, he inducted Christopher Gist and Jack Weeks into the Order.

Working with Shay Cormac

Shay: "You redcoats are nothing but landlords. The townsfolk here are grinding away, trying to make a living."

Monro: "I cannot blame you for having that impression. Some of my comrades have been less than helpful. But I take a different approach."

Shay: "And what is that?"

Monro: "I care. I want to see these colonists safe and prosperous."

—Shay and Monro's initial meeting, 1756.

In early 1756, Monro's men found the Assassin Shay Cormac adrift and unconscious in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Colonel decided to rescue him, despite William Johnson's furious objections. Shay was subsequently taken to the home of Barry and Cassidy Finnegan, whose deceased son had been a Templar and assistant to Monro. While tending to Shay's injuries, Monro found the Voynich manuscript on his person and took it for himself.

Monro introducing himself to Shay

Once he had recovered, Shay managed to oust an Assassin-allied gang from their headquarters in New York, where he and Monro were formally introduced. Despite his previous affiliations, Monro recognized Shay's potential and was convinced he would excel within the Templar Order, even sharing his hopes for Shay with Haytham. Wearing away at Shay's skepticism, Monro eventually gained Shay's confidence, with the two agreeing to work together to rebuild the city.

Back at the Finnegans' home, Monro asked Shay to rescue Gist, who had been captured by members of the same gang Shay had defeated earlier, and gave him some firecracker darts the criminals had made to use as a distraction. Monro, Gist and Shay later reconvened in Albany, where Gist revealed the criminals' base of operations was located at the nearby Fort La Croix.

Fearing that the French were planning an assault on New York, Monro convinced Shay to help them capture the fort. After Shay's ship, the Morrigan, was fitted with the necessary equipment, they mounted an attack on the criminals' headquarters, successfully weakening its defenses. While Shay went inside to finish the job, Monro returned to New York.

Monro telling Shay about the gangs' plans

Sometime later in New York, Monro explained to Shay that the criminals' boss had hired Benjamin Franklin to create poisonous gases and the means to use them. Contrary to what Le Chasseur told Shay, Monro claimed that the outlaws were planning to use the gases against the populace.

Fearing that his former ally Hope Jensen was involved, Shay agreed to investigate. He managed to acquire a grenade launcher, which the Colonel recommended he use to destroy the criminals' poison factory at an abandoned brewery. Upon completing his mission, Shay was congratulated by known Templars William Johnson and Jack Weeks, which revealed Monro's allegiance to the Order.

Siege of Fort William Henry

"Now I leave for Fort William Henry, an ill-prepared garrison surrounded by hostile natives and the French Army. We have requested reinforcements, but I doubt they will be forthcoming. I have no illusions that our resistance will be successful. I commit my life to the British Army, and my soul to the Father of Understanding."

―Monro in a letter to Shay, 1757.

By 1757, Monro had given up on his assignment of uncovering the Voynich manuscript's meaning and entrusted the artifact to Shay, as he himself had been assigned to command Fort William Henry, which was being threatened by French soldiers and Abenaki braves under the command of General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm. The fortress came under siege on 2 August, with Monro eventually surrendering seven days later. As part of the terms of surrender, the Colonel and his men were allowed to keep their muskets and one cannon, but no ammunition, and were released the next morning to be allowed passage to Fort Edward.

Shay escorting Monro and his men

However, unbeknownst to the British, the Abenaki plotted to ambush the Colonel and his men as they retreated. The Assassin Kesegowaase decided to use this to his advantage and led the attack in the hopes of assassinating Monro, though his plans were sabotaged when Shay came to the Colonel's rescue. Surviving the ambush, Shay, Monro and his remaining troops reached the Morrigan and sailed away to safety, narrowly escaping from Kesegowaase.

Death

Shay: "Keep it safe. Bring it to the Morrigan. That's an order."

Monro: "Who are you to give me orders? I outrank you."

Shay: "I'm not part of your army, Colonel. I'll take care of the defenses until you get back."

—Shay asking Monro to protect the Voynich manuscript, 1757.

Following the Siege at Fort William Henry, Monro met with Shay near Onaquaga. There, Weeks informed them that Kesegowaase was planning to attack Albany. Shay volunteered to help Monro's British and Oneida allies while he prepared the city's defenses. Before parting ways, Shay entrusted the Voynich manuscript back to Monro, believing that the artifact was safer in his hands.

Monro's final moments

On 3 November 1757, Kesegowaase and his men began their attack on Albany. Monro took command of Fort Frederick and was once again rescued by Shay. On the behest of his protégé, Monro headed for the Morrigan with the manuscript in his possession. However, along the way, he was attacked and fatally wounded by the Assassin Liam O'Brien, who took the manuscript and left Monro to die in a burning house.

After killing Kesegowaase, who informed him of Liam's plan, Shay arrived to carry Monro out of the house, but could not save the dying Colonel from his wounds. Before his death, Monro passed his Templar ring to Shay, trusting him to recover the manuscript and to continue fighting for the Templar Order in his stead.

Legacy

In 2015, the Templar Isabelle Ardant included Monro's name on a list of known British Templars. This list was later unveiled by the Assassins Rebecca Crane and Shaun Hastings when they infiltrated Ardant's office to plant a bug.

Personality and traits

"When I am issued new recruits burdened with regrets, I tell them the surest way to lose them is with gunpowder."

―George Monro to Shay Cormac, 1756.

Monro telling Shay how he found and rescued him

Monro was a gentle and dutiful man, with an utmost belief in the Templar cause. He saw himself as a benevolent protector of the citizens of the colonies through his service in the British Army, rather than someone who would lord over and govern them. Monro also strived toward improving the colonists' lives through urban renewal, suggesting a similar course of action to Shay shortly after their meeting.

Despite Shay's prior affiliation with the Assassins, Monro saw past it, treating Shay with compassion and expressing faith in his abilities, while also praising his accomplishments and dedication to the Templar cause. Shay in turn saw Monro as an honest and honorable man, and held him in high regard. This mutual respect and camaraderie ultimately led to Shay's acceptance of the Templar ideology and his induction into the Order's ranks.

Behind the scenes

George Monro is a historical figure and character introduced in the 2014 video game Assassin's Creed: Rogue, where he was portrayed by Graham J. Cuthbertson.

During his induction into the Templar Order, Shay was presented with a pair of uniform cuffs and a sash identical to those worn by Monro, which he would incorporate into his own outfit later on. These cuffs were also similar to those worn by the early versions of Spanish and British soldiers in Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag.

Gallery

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  Render model of George Monro
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  Monro asking Shay to rescue Gist
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  Monro meeting with Gist and Shay in Albany
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  Monro congratulating Shay
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  Monro attempting to give the manuscript back to Shay
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  Shay carrying Monro to safety
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  Shay giving Monro his last rites

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Rogue (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (mentioned only)