Edward Paget

For the Anglican bishop, see Edward Paget (bishop).
General
Sir Edward Paget
4th Governor of British Ceylon
Monarch George IV
Preceded by Edward Barnes
acting governor
Succeeded by James Campbell
acting governor
Personal details
Born 3 November 1775
Died 13 May 1849 (1849-05-14) (aged 73)
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank General
Battles/wars Peninsular War

General Sir Edward Paget GCB (3 November 1775 – 13 May 1849) was a British Army officer.

Career

Born the fourth son of Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge, Edward Paget became a cornet in the 1st Regiment of Life Guards in 1792.[1] He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Caernarvon Boroughs from 1796 to 1806.

He served in the British Army during the Peninsular War commanding the reserve at the Battle of Corunna in 1809 and then conducting the advance to Oporto in 1809.[2] He was second in command under Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington in 1811[2] and was captured by French cavalry in 1812.[3]

From 1816 to 1821 he was a Groom of the Bedchamber in the service of George IV, including a period 1816-1820 when the latter was Prince Regent during the mental illness of his father, George III.

Briefly serving as the Governor of Ceylon in 1822, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, India on 13 January 1823 and conducted the Burmese campaigns of 1824 to 1825,[2] relinquishing his role of as Commander-in-Chief on 7 October 1825. In 1826 he was appointed Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[1] He was also Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1837 until 1849.[2]

His eldest brother Henry William, 2nd Earl of Uxbridge (1768–1854), was in 1815 created Marquess of Anglesey and is best remembered for leading the charge of the heavy cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo. The third eldest brother, Sir Arthur Paget (1771–1840), was an eminent diplomat during the Napoleonic wars, the fifth, Sir Charles Paget (1778–1839),[4] served with distinction in the navy, and rose to the rank of vice-admiral.

Legacy

The Memorials to Governors in the Chapel of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst includes:

In Memory of General the Honble. Sir Edward Paget, G.C.B., Colonel 28th Foot. Died 13th May, 1849, aged 73 years. His war services are as follows: —Holland, Nimeguen, Gueldermalsen, 1794-5; Cape St. Vincent, 1797 Minorca, 1798 ; Egypt, three actions, wounded, 1801 ; Bremen, 1805 ; Sicily, 1806-7 ; Sweden and Portugal, 1808 ; Corunna and Passage of the Douro, lost right arm, 1809; Second-in-Command to Wellington, Retreat from Burgos, taken prisoner, 1812. Commander-in-Chief in India, 1822-25. Governor of this College, 1826-37. Afterwards Governor of Chelsea Hospital.[5]

See Also

Barrackpore Mutiny of 1824

References

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Lord Paget
Member of Parliament for Caernarvon Boroughs
1796–1800
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Member of Parliament for Caernarvon Boroughs
1801 – 1806
Succeeded by
Sir Charles Paget
Government offices
Preceded by
Edward Barnes
acting governor
Governor of Ceylon
1822
Succeeded by
James Campbell
acting governor
Military offices
Preceded by
The Marquess of Hastings
Commander-in-Chief, India
18231825
Succeeded by
The Viscount Combermere
Preceded by
Sir George Murray
Governor of the Royal Military College Sandhurst
18261837
Succeeded by
Sir George Scovell
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Sir Samuel Hulse
Governor, Royal Hospital Chelsea
18371849
Succeeded by
Sir George Anson
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