This
officer was appointed Ensign in the 4th Foot in 1773 and was stationed
at Boston when the American War commenced, and fought at Lexington
on the 19th April 1775. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
in the same year. He was attached to the First Light Battalion,
with which he served in 1776, at the descent on Long Island, Battle
of Brooklyn, capture of New York, action at Frog’s Neck, capture
of Fort Washington, and capture of New Jersey.
In 1777 he served in the expedition to Pennsylvania, and was at
the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown: and in the march through
the Jerseys. He was promoted to Captain in the 23rd Regiment in
1779, and was removed to the Mounted Light Infantry in 1780. He
served in the expedition to South Carolina, was present at the siege
of Charleston, at the Battles of Camden, and Guildford Court-house,
and in all the actions in which the troops under Major General the
Earl Cornwallis were engaged, in the two Carolinas and in Virginia,
ending with the capitulation of York Town.
He returned to England at the end of the war. In 1793 he was appointed
Major, and afterwards Lieutenant Colonel of the 80th Regiment with
which Corps he served in the Netherlands at the siege of Nijmegen,
and during the winter campaign of 1794-5 in Holland. In 1795 he
was removed to the 20th Foot and in 1797 was promoted to the rank
of Colonel. He served as Brigadier General in Ireland, during the
rebellion in 1798, and in 1799 in the expedition to Holland. In
1800 he was placed on the staff of the South-West District; and
was promoted to the rank of Major General in 1803. In 1806 he was
appointed to the command of the Western District, and to the Colonelcy
of the 8th Garrison Battalion. In May 1807, he was placed on the
staff in the East Indies, where he served some time. He was appointed
Colonel Commandant of a Battalion of the Rifle Brigade in 1809,
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 1810.
He was appointed Colonel of the 70th Regiment on 21st May 1816,
and died in command at Mitcham on 22nd October of the same year.
His death was a premature and tragic loss to them. |