Thomas Saumarez
General Sir Thomas Saumarez (1 July 1760 – 4 March 1845) was a British General who served in the American Revolutionary War.
Thomas Saumarez | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 June 1760 Guernsey |
| Died | 4 March 1845 (aged 84) Guernsey |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1776–1845 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | |
| Relations | Harriet Brock (m. 1787–1845) |
Early life: 1760–1776
Thomas Saumarez was born in Guernsey on 1 July 1760 to Matthew Saumarez (1718–1778) and Cartaret Le Marchant. He was the youngest of four. His brothers were Admiral James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez (1757–1836) and Richard Saumarez (1764–1835), a surgeon and medical author.[1]
Remainder: 1776–1845
Saumarez entered the British Army in 1776 where he fought in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). He fought in the Siege of Charleston (1780).[2] On March 15, 1781, Saumarez commanded one wing of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in the Battle of Guilford Court House.[3] In October later that year, he was captured at the Siege of Yorktown.[1]
In 1787, he married Harriet Brock. In 1793, he was made Brigade major of the Guernsey military. In 1795, he was knighted by the Prince of Wales and promoted to Quartermaster-General to the Forces. In 1799, he was the main inspector of the Guernsey military. In 1811, he was promoted to Major General. From 1812–1814, he was the commander of the garrison in Halifax. In 1813, he was the president and commander in chief of New Brunswick. He was promoted to General in 1838. Saumarez died in 1845.[1]
References
- Stephen, Leslie; Blake, Robert; Nicholls, Christine (1909). The Dictionary of National Biography. Volume XII. p. 106. OCLC 2147036.
- Hart, h. g. (1841). "The new annual army list, for 1841 with an index".
- Babits, Lawrence Edward; Howard, Joshua B. (2009). Long, Obstinate, and Bloody: The Battle of Guilford Courthouse. ISBN 9780807832660.