of June 1708, sworn and admitted one of the extraordinary Lords of
Session, being, says Fountainhall, “the best school of law for the
nobility to learn that is in Europe.” On the 23d of March 1709 Her
Majesty Queen Anne appointed the Earl of Ilay to be Colonel of the
THIRTY-SIXTH regiment. The governorship of Dumbarton Castle was
also conferred upon his Lordship.
Finding that a statesman’s career was more congenial to his taste
than the military profession, he quitted the army and resigned the
colonelcy of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment in 1710. With his accustomed
assiduity his Lordship employed himself in the acquisition of
political knowledge. In 1710 he was appointed Lord Justice General
of Scotland, and was sworn a Privy Councillor in the following
year. Upon the accession of George I. the Earl of Ilay was
constituted Lord Clerk Register; and on the breaking out of the
rebellion in 1715 he again betook himself to arms in defence of the
reigning family. By his prudent conduct in the Western Highlands
he prevented General Gordon at the head of three thousand men,
from penetrating into the country and raising levies. He joined his
brother the Duke of Argyle on the 13th of November 1715, half an
hour before the battle of Sheriffmuir, where he was wounded.
In 1725 this nobleman received the office of Keeper of the Privy
Seal, and in December 1733 his Lordship was appointed Keeper of
the Great Seal. Upon the decease of his brother, in 1743, the Earl
of Ilay became third Duke of Argyle, and Hereditary Justiciary
of Argyleshire and the Western Islands. After the suppression of
the rebellion in 1746, he carried into effect the judicious plan
of employing the Highlanders in the Royal army, which had been
suggested by the Right Honourable William Pitt, afterwards the Earl
of Chatham.
The Duke of Argyle continued at the head of affairs in Scotland,
in full possession of his mental faculties, until his death,
which happened in London, without a moment’s pain, as he was
sitting in his chair at dinner, on the 15th of April 1761, in the
seventy-ninth year of his age. On this nobleman’s decease the title
of Earl of Ilay became extinct; his other titles and estates in
Scotland descended to his cousin, Lieut.-General John Campbell of
Mamore, Colonel of the Second dragoons, or Scots Greys.
HENRY DESAULNAIS.
_Appointed 23d October 1710._
Upon the resignation of Colonel the Earl of Ilay, Lieut.-Colonel
Henry Desaulnais (afterwards spelt Desney) was promoted from the
Coldstream guards to the Colonelcy of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment
on the 23d of October 1710. In the following year he served
with his regiment in the expedition against Quebec, and on the
25th of December 1725 this officer was appointed Colonel of the
Twenty-ninth regiment. He died on the 21st of November 1731.
WILLIAM EGERTON.
_Appointed 11th July 1715._
This officer served with reputation in the wars of King William
III. and of Queen Anne. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in
November 1711, appointed Colonel of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment on
the 11th of July 1715, and on the 6th of July 1719 was removed to
the Twentieth regiment, which corps he commanded until his decease
on the 15th of July 1732.
SIR CHARLES HOTHAM, BART.
_Appointed 7th July 1719._
CHARLES HOTHAM, eldest son of the Reverend Charles Hotham, rector
of Wigan, succeeded to the baronetcy on the decease of his uncle in
1691. He served with distinction in the wars of King William III.,
and also under the great Duke of Marlborough in the reign of Queen
Anne. In 1705 he obtained the colonelcy of a regiment of infantry,
with which he proceeded to Spain in 1706, and was in garrison at
Alicant when the unfortunate battle of Almanza was fought. Sir
Charles Hotham served with reputation during the remainder of the
war; but his regiment, having suffered severely in the defence of
several fortified towns, was disbanded in Catalonia in 1708. He
was appointed Brigadier-General on the 1st of January 1710, and
shortly after the accession of King George I. he was commissioned
to raise a regiment of infantry, which, after the suppression of
the rebellion of the Earl of Mar in 1716, was sent to Ireland, and
disbanded in the following year. Sir Charles Hotham was afterwards
appointed Colonel of a newly raised regiment of dragoons, which was
disbanded in November 1718.
On the 7th of July 1719, the colonelcy of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment
was conferred on Sir Charles Hotham; he was removed to the Eighth
or King’s regiment of foot in December 1720, and in April following
to the Royal dragoons. His decease occurred on the 8th of January
1723.
JOHN POCOCK.
_Appointed 2d December 1720._
This officer obtained a commission in a regiment of infantry in
June 1695; and having signalized himself in the wars of Queen
Anne, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the army in 1707.
In 1710, he succeeded William Lord Strathnaver in the colonelcy
of a regiment of infantry, with which he served in Flanders under
the celebrated Duke of Marlborough, and afterwards under the Duke
of Ormond. At the peace of Utrecht his regiment was disbanded; and
in 1715 he was commissioned to raise a regiment of foot for the
service of King George I. After the suppression of the rebellion
of the Earl of Mar, this regiment was sent to Ireland, where it
was disbanded in 1718; and on the 2d of December 1720, he was
appointed to the colonelcy of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment, from which
he was removed in April 1721 to the Eighth or King’s regiment.
On the expectation that Great Britain would become involved
in a continental war, in 1727, he was promoted to the rank of
Brigadier-General. He died in April 1732, at his house in Leicester
Fields, London.
CHARLES LENOE.
_Appointed 21st April 1721._
CHARLES LENOE entered the army in the reign of Queen Anne, his
first commission bearing date the 4th of December 1704; he served
under the Duke of Marlborough, and on the 21st of April 1721,
Lieut.-Colonel Lenoe was promoted from the Coldstream guards to be
Colonel of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment, from which he was removed to
the Eighth or King’s regiment on the 8th of May 1732, the colonelcy
of which he retained until his decease in December 1738.
JOHN MOYLE.
_Appointed 14th May 1732._
This officer entered the army in the reign of Queen Anne,
and served with reputation under the celebrated John Duke of
Marlborough; he rose to the lieut.-colonelcy of a newly raised
regiment of infantry, and in 1708 was promoted to the rank
of Colonel in the army. At the peace of Utrecht in 1713, his
regiment was disbanded. Colonel Moyle was advanced to the rank of
Brigadier-General on the 13th of March 1727. On the 14th of May
1732, King George II. conferred the colonelcy of the THIRTY-SIXTH
regiment on Brigadier-General Moyle, who was promoted to the rank
of Major-General on the 5th of November 1735. In June 1737, he was
removed to the Twenty-second regiment. Major-General Moyle died on
the 3d of November 1738.
HUMPHREY BLAND.
_Appointed 27th June 1737._
HUMPHREY BLAND served in several campaigns on the continent under
the famous John Duke of Marlborough, as a Lieutenant and Captain
of horse. He afterwards served as Lieut.-Colonel in Spain, and
on the 27th of July 1710 was wounded at the battle of Almanara.
In 1715, when a number of new corps were raised, King George I.
appointed him Lieut.-Colonel of the Eleventh dragoons, and he
was instrumental with his regiment in suppressing the rebellion
which broke out in Scotland towards the end of that year; he was
afterwards appointed Lieut.-Colonel of the Second horse, now First
Dragoon guards, and having distinguished himself as an efficient
and loyal officer, he was on the 27th of June 1737, promoted to the
colonelcy of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment, from which he was removed,
in 1741, to the Thirteenth dragoons, and two years afterwards to
the Third or King’s Own dragoons. He had his horse shot under him
at the battle of Dettingen on the 27th of June 1743; on the 30th
of March 1745, he was promoted to the rank of Major-General; he
displayed great gallantry at the battle of Fontenoy on the 11th of
May following, and highly distinguished himself in the battle of
Culloden on the 16th of April 1746; he was advanced to the rank
of Lieut.-General on the 12th of September 1747. In July 1752 he
was removed to the First Dragoon guards, the colonelcy of which
regiment he retained until his decease in 1763.
JAMES FLEMING.
_Appointed 9th January 1741._
LIEUT.-COLONEL JAMES FLEMING was promoted from the Seventh Royal
fusiliers to the colonelcy of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment on the 9th
of January 1741. He was advanced to the rank of Brigadier-General
in June 1745, and was present in the action at Falkirk on the 17th
of January 1746, and also at the battle of Culloden on the 16th of
April following. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General on
the 2d of September 1747. He died in March 1751.
LORD ROBERT MANNERS.
_Appointed 13th March 1751._
LORD ROBERT MANNERS, son of John, second Duke of Rutland, choosing
a military life, purchased an ensigncy in the Coldstream guards,
on the 26th of July 1735; was appointed Lieutenant in May 1740,
and Captain and Lieut.-Colonel in the First Foot guards on the
22nd of April 1742. In December 1747, he was promoted to the rank
of Colonel and appointed Aide-de-camp to King George II.; on the
13th of March 1751 his Lordship was appointed by His Majesty to the
colonelcy of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment. The rank of Major-General
was conferred upon Lord Robert Manners on the 7th of February 1757,
and his Lordship was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-General on
the 7th of April 1759; in 1765 he was removed to the Third Dragoon
guards, and was promoted to the rank of General on the 25th of May
1772. His decease occurred on the 31st of May 1782.
SIR RICHARD PIERSON, K.B.
_Appointed 11th September 1765._
RICHARD PIERSON was for many years an officer in the First Foot
guards, in which regiment he was appointed Major, with the rank
of Colonel in the army, on the 21st of July 1760. On the 10th of
July 1762, he was promoted to the rank of Major-General, and on the
5th of September 1764 he was appointed Colonel of the Sixty-third
regiment, from which he was removed on the 11th of September 1765
to the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment. In 1772 he was promoted to the rank
of Lieut.-General, and was also honoured with the dignity of a
Knight of the Bath; and on the 27th of November 1778, Sir Richard
Pierson was removed to the Thirteenth dragoons. He was taken
suddenly ill on his return from the theatre on the night of the
12th of February 1781, and died before the following morning.
THE HONOURABLE HENRY ST. JOHN.
_Appointed 27th November 1778._
THE HONOURABLE HENRY ST. JOHN, brother of Viscount Bolingbroke,
entered the army as Ensign in the Coldstream regiment of Foot
guards, his commission being dated 31st of December 1754, from
which he was promoted on the 12th of January 1758 to the rank of
Captain in the Eighteenth, Royal Irish regiment, then stationed
in Ireland. Captain the Honourable Henry St. John was advanced
to the rank of Major in the Ninety-first regiment on the 12th of
January 1760, in which he was promoted Lieut.-Colonel on the 13th
of February 1762, and on the corps being disbanded at the Peace
of 1763 he was placed on half pay. On the 9th of November 1767,
Lieut.-Colonel the Honourable Henry St. John was appointed to the
Sixty-seventh regiment then in garrison at Minorca. He received
the brevet rank of Colonel on the 11th of January 1776, and was
appointed by His Majesty King George III. to be Colonel of the
THIRTY-SIXTH regiment on the 27th of November 1778.
Colonel the Honourable Henry St. John was advanced to the rank
of Major-General on the 19th of February 1779, to that of
Lieut.-General on the 28th of September 1787, and to that of
General on the 16th of January 1797. His decease occurred in April
1818, at which period he retained the colonelcy of the THIRTY-SIXTH
regiment, which he had held for upwards of thirty-nine years.
SIR GEORGE DON, G.C.B. AND G.C.H.
_Appointed 4th April 1818._
This officer entered the army in 1770, as Ensign in the Fifty-first
foot; in 1784 he was promoted Major of the Fifty-ninth regiment,
and in April 1789 was appointed Lieut.-Colonel of the same corps.
He was advanced to the rank of Colonel in 1795, and was appointed
Aide-de-camp to His Majesty King George III. in 1797.
In 1798 Colonel Don was promoted to the rank of Major-General; in
the succeeding year he was appointed Colonel of the Seventh West
India regiment (afterwards disbanded), and was removed to the
Ninety-sixth regiment in 1805. He was also promoted to the rank
of Lieut.-General, and proceeded with the expedition to Hanover
in the same year. In 1814 he was promoted to the rank of General,
and appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar. On the 24th of
January 1819, the Ninety-fifth (formerly Ninety-sixth) regiment was
disbanded, previously to which he was, on the 4th of April 1818,
removed therefrom to the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment. General Don was
nominated a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on the
20th of May 1820, and on the 21st of December 1829 was appointed
Colonel of the Third foot or the Buffs. He was appointed Governor
of Scarborough Castle in 1831, and died at Gibraltar on the 1st of
January 1832.
SIR ROGER HALE SHEAFFE, BART.
_Appointed 21st December 1829._
This officer commenced his military career as ensign in the Fifth
fusiliers, his commission being dated 1st of May 1778, in which
regiment he rose to the rank of lieutenant on the 27th of December
1780. Lieutenant Sheaffe served in Ireland from January 1781 to
May 1787, and in Canada from July following to September 1797.
In 1794 he was employed under the orders of Lord Dorchester, and
with instructions from Lieut.-Governor Simcoe, on a public mission
to protest against certain settlements made by the Americans on
the south shore of Lake Ontario. On the 5th of May 1795, he was
promoted to the rank of Captain in the Fifth fusiliers, and on
the 13th of December 1797 was promoted Major in the Eighty-first
regiment, and was advanced to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel of the
Forty-ninth regiment on the 22d of March 1798.
Lieut.-Colonel Sheaffe served in Holland from August to November
1799; in the Baltic from March to July 1801; and in Canada from
September 1802 to October 1811. On the 25th of April 1808, he
received the brevet rank of Colonel, and on the 4th of June 1811
was advanced to the rank of Major-General. He again served in
Canada from the 29th of July 1812 to November 1813. The Americans
having invaded Upper Canada at Queenstown on the 13th of October
1812, and General Brock, commanding in the province, having fallen
in a gallant effort with an independent force to oppose them,
Major-General Sheaffe, on whom the command devolved, assembled
some regular troops and militia, with a few Indians, and the same
day attacked them in a woody height, which they occupied above the
town, and completely defeated them, though far exceeding his own
followers in number, their Commander delivering his sword, and
surrendering his surviving troops on the field of battle.
In acknowledgment of this important service, Major-General Sheaffe
was created a Baronet by patent, dated 16th January 1813. Sir Roger
Sheaffe defended the town of York (now called Toronto), in Upper
Canada, on the 27th of April 1813, when it was attacked by the
Americans, whose loss exceeded the number of those opposed to them.
He continued to command in the Upper Province, and to administer
its government, until June 1813; on quitting it he received,
from the resident members of the Executive Council, an address
expressing their sense of “that display of candour, justice,
and impartiality which had marked his administration, and the
urbanity and confidence of his official intercourse.” They further
acknowledged their conviction that they owed the salvation of the
whole province to his military talents on the memorable day when he
succeeded to the command. He was appointed to the Staff of Great
Britain on the 25th of March 1814; but the appointment was recalled
and deferred, in consequence of the change of affairs in Europe.
Major-General Sir Roger Sheaffe was promoted to the rank of
Lieut.-General on the 19th of July 1821, and on the 21st of
December 1829 was appointed by His Majesty King George IV. to
be Colonel of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment. He was advanced to the
rank of General on the 28th of June 1838. General Sir Roger Hale
Sheaffe, Bart., died at Edinburgh, aged eighty-eight years, on the
17th of July 1851.
LORD FREDERICK FITZCLARENCE, G.C.H.
_Appointed 23d July 1851._
APPENDIX.
_Copy of the General Orders issued by the Commander-in-Chief of
Madras upon the_ THIRTY-SIXTH _regiment being ordered to return
to Great Britain_.
“GENERAL ORDERS.
_“Head-Quarters,
“Choultry Plain, 24th September 1798._
“In taking leave of Lieut.-Colonel Burne, the officers, and men
of His Majesty’s THIRTY-SIXTH regiment, the Commander-in-Chief
cannot refrain from expressing his sincere regret at losing
from under his command a corps so eminently distinguished for
important services in the field, and for discipline, order, and
regularity, in every situation. Of a regiment whose merits are
so well known, it is unnecessary to say much: their gallant
exertions will receive their best reward in the applause and
gratitude of their country.
“The Commander-in-Chief cannot more strongly evince his high
opinion of this corps than by exhorting the men, wherever their
King and Country may hereafter require their services, to make it
their first care to preserve unblemished the name and reputation
they have acquired in the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment.
(Signed) “KEITH YOUNG,
“_Acting Deputy Adjutant General_.”
_Copy of an Order issued by the Governor in Council upon the_
THIRTY-SIXTH _regiment quitting Madras for Great Britain_.
“_Madras, 14th October 1798._
“The remainder of His Majesty’s THIRTY-SIXTH regiment is to
embark from the North Glacis at six o’clock to-morrow morning
for Europe, in the ships under despatch, according to the
distribution they have received from the Deputy Adjutant General.
“The occasion cannot fail to recall the memory of those glorious
and important services which have been rendered by this gallant
corps to the British Empire in India; services for which the
Right Honorable the President in Council offers the warmest
thanks of this Government to Lieut.-Colonel Burne, the officers,
and men of the regiment.
“The Governor in Council, impressed with a just sense of the
discipline and hardiness of the men, of the experience and
gallantry of the officers, cannot but feel sincere regret at the
loss which the army under this Government is about to sustain in
the departure of this efficient corps.”
_Copy of a Letter from Lieut.-General the Honorable Sir Arthur
Wellesley, K.B. to Viscount Castlereagh, Secretary of State._
Contained in Vol. iv., page 100, “of the Despatches of
Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington.” Compiled by Colonel
Gurwood.
“_Vimiera, 22d August 1808._
“MY DEAR LORD,
“After I wrote to you yesterday morning we were attacked by the
whole of the French army, Sir Harry Burrard being still on board
ship, and I gained a complete victory. It was impossible for
troops to behave better than our’s did: we only wanted a few
hundred more cavalry to annihilate the French army.
“I have sent my Report upon this action to Sir Harry Burrard,
who will send it home. You will see in it that I have mentioned
Colonel Burne of the 36th regiment in a very particular manner,
and I assure you that there is nothing that will give me so much
satisfaction as to learn that something has been done for this
old and meritorious soldier.
“_The_ THIRTY-SIXTH _regiment is an example to the army._
“Sir Harry did not land till late in the day in the midst of
the attack, and he desired me to continue my own operations;
and, as far as I am personally concerned in the action, I was
amply rewarded for any disappointment I might have felt in not
having had an opportunity of bringing the service to a close, by
the satisfaction expressed by the army that the second and more
important victory had been gained by their old General.
“I have also the pleasure to add, that it has more effect than
all the argument I could use to induce the General to move on,
and I believe he will march to-morrow. Indeed, if he does not, we
shall be poisoned here by the stench of the dead and wounded, or
we shall starve, everything in the neighbourhood being already
eaten up.
“From the number of dead Frenchmen about the ground, and the
number of prisoners and wounded, I should think their loss could
not be far short of 3,000 men. The force which attacked us was
very respectable, and probably not short of 14,000 men, including
1,300 dragoons and artillery, and 300 chasseurs à cheval.
“Sir Hew Dalrymple arrived last night, and will land this morning.
“Believe me, &c.
(Signed) “ARTHUR WELLESLEY.”
“The Viscount Castlereagh,
&c. &c.”
“GENERAL ORDERS.
“_His Majesty’s Ship, “Audacious,”
“18th January 1809._
“The irreparable loss that has been sustained by the fall of the
Commander of the Forces (Lieut.-General Sir John Moore), and the
severe wound which has removed Lieut.-General Sir David Baird
from his station, render it the duty of Lieut.-General Hope to
congratulate the army upon the successful result of the action of
the 16th instant.
“On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever
been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing
march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had
acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the
troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered.
“These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops
themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever
advantages of position or of numbers he may employ, there is
inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that
knows not how to yield, that no circumstances can appal, and that
will ensure victory when it is to be obtained by the exertion of
any human means.
“The Lieut.-General has the greatest satisfaction in
distinguishing such meritorious services as came within his
observation, or have been brought to his knowledge.
“His acknowledgments are, in a peculiar manner, due to
Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck, and the brigade under his
command, consisting of the fourth, forty-second, and fiftieth
regiments, and which sustained the weight of the attack.
“Major-General Manningham, with his brigade, consisting of
the Royals, the twenty-sixth and eighty-first regiments, and
Major-General Warde, with the brigade of Guards, will also be
pleased to accept his best thanks for their steady and gallant
conduct during the action.
“To Major-General Paget, who, by a judicious movement of the
reserve, effectually contributed to check the progress of
the enemy on the right; and to the first battalion of the
fifty-second and ninety-fifth regiments, which were thereby
engaged, the greatest praise is justly due.
“That part of Major-General Leith’s brigade which was engaged,
consisting of the fifty-ninth regiment, under the conduct of the
Major-General, also claims marked approbation.
“The enemy not having rendered the attack on the left a serious
one, did not afford to the troops stationed in that quarter an
opportunity of displaying that gallantry which must have made him
repent the attempt.
“The piquets and advanced posts, however, of the brigades under
the command of Major-Generals Hill and Leith, and Colonel Catlin
Craufurd, conducted themselves with determined resolution, and
were ably supported by the officers commanding these brigades,
and by the troops of which they were composed.
“It is peculiarly incumbent upon the Lieut.-General to notice the
vigorous attack made by the second battalion of the fourteenth
regiment under Lieut.-Colonel Nicolls, which drove the enemy out
of the village, of the left of which he had possessed himself.