General Sir Samuel Benjamin Auchmuty GCB (28 April 1780 – 30 April 1868)[2] was an Anglo-Irish soldier.
Sir Samuel Auchmuty | |
---|---|
Born | 28 April 1780 Newry, County Down, Ireland[1] |
Died | 30 April 1868 Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Rank | General |
Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
He was the second son of Col. Samuel Auchmuty and his wife, Elizabeth Domvile Savage, only daughter of Francis Savage.[3] Auchmuty entered the British Army as ensign in 1797 and served first in the French Revolutionary Wars and subsequently in the Napoleonic Wars.[3] He was lieutenant of the 68th Regiment of Foot in 1800 and was promoted to captain in 1805.[4] A year later Auchmuty was transferred to the 70th Regiment of Foot and in 1807 to the 7th Regiment of Foot.[4] In 1810, he was appointed deputy assistant adjutant-general and attached to the 6th Infantry Division.[4] He became Aide-de-camp to Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole in July 1813 and was promoted to major in October of the same year.[4] Auchmuty fought in the Battle of Orthez in February 1814 and in the Battle of Toulouse in April, for which he received the Army Gold Medal and was made a brevet lieutenant-colonel.[4]
Auchmuty became colonel in 1831 and major-general 1841.[5] He was transferred to the general staff in India in 1848,[6] became colonel of the 65th Regiment of Foot in February 1851[7] was promoted to lieutenant-general in November.[8] In 1855, Auchmuty was appointed colonel of his old regiment, the 7th foot,[9] and following the death of Sir Robert John Harvey was promoted finally to general in 1860.[10] He was awarded a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1857[11] and a Knight Grand Cross in 1861.[12]
In 1817, he married Mary Anne Buchanan.[2] Auchmuty died, aged 88 at Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.[2]
|