Sir Frederick Dobson Middleton (4 November 1825 – 25 January 1898) was a British general noted for his service throughout the Empire and particularly in the North-West Rebellion in Canada.

Educated at Maidstone Grammar School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Middleton was commissioned into the 58th Regiment of Foot in 1842.

[1] He served in the New Zealand Wars, and in 1845 he was mentioned in dispatches for his part in the capture of the stronghold of Māori chief Te Ruki Kawiti.

[1] In 1848 he transferred to the 96th Regiment of Foot in India and took part in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny in which campaign he was recommended for, but not awarded, the Victoria Cross.

This required the men to march through snow and the rocks of northern Ontario to reach Winnipeg, the headquarters of the government forces.

[3] Canadian historian Desmond Morton described Middleton as an experienced soldier who "mixed common sense and pomposity in equal measure".

[3] On 23 April, Métis and Cree fighters under Gabriel Dumont ambushed the troops at Fish Creek, temporarily stopping the advance.

[6] Despite their own panic at Fish Creek, many of the militiamen came to curse "Old Fred" as too timid, but Middleton had sound reasons for not wishing to advance without a means of resupply.

On 9 May, the Northcote was stopped by a cable that Dumont had laid across the river outside of Batoche, and its U.S. captain turned back when the boat came under fire.

[5] Seeing his troops beginning to panic again, Middleton ordered his wagons to be drawn into a circle to form a strong defensive position.