William Smelt (British Army officer)
William Smelt | |
|---|---|
| 18th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon | |
| In office 28 January 1847 – 1852 | |
| Preceded by | Colin Campbell |
| Succeeded by | P. Bainbrigge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gedling, Nottinghamshire |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | General Officer Commanding, Ceylon |
Lieutenant-General William Smelt, CB (c. 1788 – 10 January 1858)[1][2] was the 18th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. He was a member of the Smelt family.
He joined the British Army as a Cornet in 1798.[3] In 1814, as a Major of the 103rd Foot, he participated in the battles of Plattsburg, Oswego and Lundy's Lane in North America and was badly wounded at the Siege of Fort Erie.[4]
He was awarded CB in 1826, when a Lieutenant-Colonel of the 41st Foot.[5] He was appointed General Officer Commanding, Ceylon on 28 January 1847 and succeeded by P. Bainbrigge in 1852. He was awarded the Army of India Medal.
In 1850 he was given the colonelcy of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot[6] but transferred in 1851 to the 37th Foot, a position he held until his death. He was promoted Lieutenant-General on 11 November 1851.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ Evening Mail, 15 January 1858 – "The Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 37th (the North Hampshire) Regiment is vacant by the death of Lieutenaut- General William Smelt, C.B., whose death has been announced as having taken place at Bath Sunday last. The gallant officer was in his 70th year"
- ^ The United Service Magazine. H. Colburn. 1858. p. 474.
- ^ London Gazette, March 20, 1798
- ^ "William Drummond and the Battle of Fort Erie". Scholars Commons. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and its dependencies. Volume 23. p. 302.
- ^ "No. 21082". The London Gazette. 2 April 1850. p. 959.
- ^ "No. 21262". The London Gazette. 11 November 1850. p. 2965.
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