SUCCESSION OF COLONELS

THE EIGHTY-SIXTH,

THE ROYAL COUNTY DOWN REGIMENT OF

FOOT.

Cornelius Cuyler.

Appointed 30th October, 1793.

Cornelius Cuyler was appointed ensign in the fifty-fifth foot, on the 31st of May, 1759, and, immediately proceeding to North America, joined his regiment before the fort of Ticonderoga, on the west shore of Lake Champlain, in July of the same year, in time to take part in the reduction of that post. In 1760 he served at the reduction of Isle-aux-Noix and at the capture of Montreal, which completed the conquest of Canada. In 1764 he was appointed captain in the forty-sixth foot, with which corps he served two years on the frontiers of North America, one year at New York, and eight in Ireland. On the breaking out of the American war in 1775, he was appointed first aide-de-camp to Lieutenant-General Sir William Howe, who proceeded to Boston with reinforcements. In 1776, he was promoted to major in the fifty-fifth, but continued to perform the duty of first aide-de-camp to Sir William Howe, then commanding-in-chief in North America, and served at the reduction of Long Island, the capture of New York, and the battle of White Plains. He also accompanied the expedition to Pennsylvania in 1777, and served at the battles of Brandywine, and Germantown, and in November of that year he succeeded Colonel Meadows, who was removed to the fifth foot, in the lieutenant-colonelcy of the fifty-fifth, which corps he commanded in the retreat from Philadelphia to New York in 1778, and was at the battle of Freehold, under Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton. In November of that year he proceeded with his regiment to the West Indies, and was engaged in the capture of St. Lucie. He performed the duties of adjutant-general to the troops in the West Indies, under Major-General Christie, in 1781; he afterwards performed the duties of quarter-master-general in the West Indies until 1784 when he returned to England, and took the command of his regiment, then in Ireland. In 1787 he was appointed to the situation of quarter-master-general in the West Indies, which he held until 1792, when he succeeded to the command of the forces in the Windward and Leeward Islands. He commanded an expedition against Tobago, and, having captured the principal fort by storm, on the morning of the 15th of April, 1793, the island submitted. Returning to England soon afterwards, he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and appointed colonel of the Eighty-sixth Regiment, then first raised, and styled “Cuyler’s Shropshire Volunteers.” He was also placed on the staff of Great Britain, and in April, 1794, he obtained the appointment of lieutenant-governor of Portsmouth: in June of that year he was removed from the Eighty-sixth to the sixty-ninth regiment. In June, 1796, he was appointed commander-in-chief in the West Indies, with the local rank of lieutenant-general; in January, 1798, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general in the army, and returned to England in May following. In June he was appointed to the command of the Sussex district; and in January, 1799, he was nominated commander-in-chief in Portugal,—the government of that country having refused to ratify a treaty of peace with France, and agreed to receive British troops into the ports: he returned to England in November, the greater part of the troops being sent to the Mediterranean. The rank of general was conferred on this distinguished officer in 1803; he was also appointed governor of Kinsale, and, in July, 1814, he was further rewarded with the dignity of Baronet.

General Sir Cornelius Cuyler, Baronet, died at St. John’s Lodge, Herts, on the 8th of March, 1819, after an honourable service of sixty years.

Russell Manners.

Appointed 20th June, 1794.

This officer was appointed cornet in the royal regiment of horse-guards, in May, 1755; captain in the seventh dragoons, in February, 1758, and in April, 1760, he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the twenty-first dragoons, or royal foresters. He served in Germany under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, and, at the peace in 1763, when the royal foresters were disbanded, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the second dragoon guards. On the breaking out of the American war, in 1775, he was appointed colonel of the nineteenth light dragoons,—then newly raised; in 1777, he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and, in 1782, to that of lieutenant-general; in 1783 his regiment was disbanded. The colonelcy of the Eighty-sixth foot was conferred on Lieutenant-General Manners in 1794; in 1795 he was removed to the twenty-sixth light dragoons, and in 1799 he was promoted to the rank of general.

On the 23rd of May, 1800, as General Manners was riding, accompanied by two other gentlemen, in a post-chaise, to Cambridge, he was stopped by two highwaymen, who demanded his money, when he shot one dead on the spot, and the other rode off. In September of the same year, he was residing at Southend, for the benefit of his health, and, having a presentiment of his approaching death, he set off for London, alone, to obtain medical advice, but he was taken ill on the road, and died at an inn, at Billericay, in Essex, on the 11th September, 1800.

William Grinfield.

Appointed 25th March, 1795.

William Grinfield was appointed ensign in the third foot guards, in 1760; he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and captain in 1767, to that of captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1776, and in 1782 he was promoted to the rank of colonel in the army. In 1786 he obtained the commission of second major in his regiment. He commanded the first battalion of the third foot guards, under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, in Flanders, and evinced great personal bravery and ability on several occasions, particularly at the siege of Valenciennes, and at the re-capture of the post of Lincelles on the 18th of August, 1793, for which he received the thanks of the Duke of York in general orders. He had been appointed lieutenant-colonel of the third foot guards a few days before this action occurred, and in October of the same year he was promoted to the rank of major-general. In 1795 he was rewarded with the colonelcy of the Eighty-sixth foot; in 1798 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and at that eventful period he was called upon to transfer his services to the West Indies, with the important appointment of commander of the forces in the Windward and Leeward islands. On the renewal of hostilities with France in 1803, he commanded an expedition against St. Lucie, and, having captured the fort of Morne Fortuné by storm on the 22nd of June, the island submitted. He landed on the island of Tobago on the 30th of June, and, by a spirited advance upon Scarborough, forced the French General, Berthier, to surrender. He captured the islands of Demerara and Essequibo, from the Dutch, on the 19th of September, and Berbice, in a few days afterwards. On the 25th of September he was promoted to the rank of general. He died at Barbadoes on the 19th of October, 1803, of the yellow fever, surviving his lady only three days. It is recorded, that a short time before he left England for the West Indies, Mrs. Grinfield’s brother died, leaving them £20,000; the general, finding two cousins of the deceased were left unprovided for, observed to his lady, that, as themselves possessed an ample fortune, he purposed making provision for the unfortunate relatives; she readily assenting, he sent for them, and divided the whole legacy between them.

Sir James Henry Craig, KB.

Appointed 5th January, 1804.

James Henry Craig obtained a commission of ensign in the thirtieth foot on the 1st of June, 1763, and he served with his regiment several years at the fortress of Gibraltar. In March, 1771, he was promoted captain in the forty-seventh foot, with which corps he served in the American war. The forty-seventh were at Boston when hostilities commenced; they took part in the actions at Concord and Bunker’s Hill in 1775, and in 1776 they served in Canada. In December, 1777, Captain Craig was promoted major in the eighty-second regiment, then serving in America, and in 1781 he obtained the lieutenant-colonelcy of that corps, from which he was removed, in 1783, to the sixteenth foot. In 1790 he was promoted to the rank of colonel, in 1794 to that of major-general, and in 1795 his services were rewarded with the colonelcy of the forty-sixth foot. In 1801 he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-general, and was removed to the Eighty-sixth regiment in 1804. On the 25th of March, 1805, he was appointed commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean, with the local rank of general; he was also honoured with the dignity of a Knight of the Bath, and nominated governor of Blackness Castle; in 1806 he was removed to the twenty-second regiment. The services of General Sir James Craig were afterwards transferred to British North America, of which country he was appointed governor, with the local rank of general in Upper and Lower Canada, dated the 21st of August, 1807. In 1809 he was removed to the colonelcy of the seventy-eighth highland regiment, or Ross-shire buffs. On the 1st of January, 1812, he was promoted to the rank of general in the army, which he only held a few days, his decease occurring on the 12th of the same month.

Sir Charles Ross, Bart.

Appointed 30th October, 1806.

Charles Ross, son of Admiral Sir Lockhart Ross, of Balnagown, Bart., who signalized himself during the seven years’ war, obtained a commission of cornet in the seventh dragoons, in January, 1780, and in May, 1784, he was promoted captain in the third Irish horse, now sixth dragoon guards, in which corps he remained three years, when he was advanced to the commission of major in the thirty-seventh foot. On the 16th of March, 1791, he was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy of his regiment, and he performed the duty of commanding officer several years with reputation to himself and advantage to the service. He afterwards took an active part in raising the hundred and sixteenth regiment, but this corps was disbanded in 1796. On the 18th of June, 1798, he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and to that of lieut.-general, in October, 1805. In December of the same year, he was appointed colonel of the eighty-fifth foot, from which he was removed, in October, 1806, to the Eighty-sixth, and in June, 1810, he was appointed to the thirty-seventh regiment. He was endowed with many amiable qualities, which rendered him an ornament to his country; he was eminently useful in every relation which connected him with society, particularly courteous in public life, and affectionate and valuable as a friend. He died at Balnagown Castle, in the county of Ross, on the 8th of February, 1814.

The Honorable Francis Needham.

Appointed 25th June, 1810.

The Honorable Francis Jack Needham, third son of John, tenth Viscount of Kilmorey, choosing the profession of arms, procured a commission of cornet in the eighteenth dragoons, on the 17th of December, 1762; in February, 1765, he was removed to the first dragoons, in which corps he obtained a lieutenancy in 1771, and in May, 1774, he was promoted captain in the seventeenth dragoons. He accompanied his regiment to North America, in the spring of 1775, and served at Boston under Lieut.-General Gage; he also served at the capture of Long Island under General Sir William Howe, and received, with his regiment, the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief, for his conduct at the battle of Brooklyn. He also served in the actions at White Plains, and in the Jerseys; afterwards proceeded to Philadelphia, took part in several skirmishes in Pennsylvania, and in covering the retreat to New York, in the performance of which service he was engaged at Freehold. He was subsequently stationed in the lines in front of New York, where he was taken prisoner by the Americans. In August, 1780, he was promoted major in the seventy-sixth Highland regiment, then serving in America, with which corps he shared in the contest until the peace. In February, 1783, he was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy of the hundred and fourth regiment, and six weeks afterwards he was appointed captain and lieut.-colonel in the first foot guards; he was nominated aide-de-camp to the King in 1793, with the rank of colonel. In 1794 he was appointed adjutant-general of the expedition to the coast of France, under Lieut.-General the Earl of Moira; and in 1795 he was appointed third major in the first foot guards, promoted to the rank of major-general, and placed on the home staff. He was subsequently detached, second in command to Major-General Doyle, with Monsieur Compte D’ Artois and his suite, to take possession of Isle Dieu, which place the troops maintained so long as the navy could afford them protection. An appointment on the staff of Ireland was next conferred on him, and he commanded a body of troops during the rebellion in 1798; he was at the battle of Arklow, on the 9th of June, and commanded a division at Vinegar Hill, on the 21st of June. He continued on the staff of Ireland until April, 1802, when he was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general. He had previously been appointed lieut.-colonel in the first foot guards (21st of August, 1801,) and in April, 1804, he obtained the colonelcy of the fifth veteran battalion. In 1806, he was elected member of parliament for Newry, and he sat for that borough in four parliaments. He was appointed colonel of the Eighty-sixth Regiment in 1810, and took great interest in the reputation and welfare of his corps: in 1812 he was promoted to the rank of general. On the decease of his brother Robert, in 1818, he succeeded to the dignity of Viscount Kilmorey. Large and influential estates in Ireland were bequeathed to him by a distant relation; and in January, 1822, he was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Kilmorey and Viscount Newry and Morne, in the County Down, Ireland. This excellent and patriotic nobleman died at his seat of Shavington, in Shropshire, on the 21st of November, 1832, much regretted, particularly by his numerous tenants in Ireland, to whom he had evinced great kindness.

William George Lord Harris.

Appointed 3rd December, 1832.

Removed to the seventy-third regiment of foot, 4th December, 1835.

The Honorable Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, KCB., GCMG., KCH.

Appointed 4th December, 1835.

Honorable Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, third son of Frederick, third Earl of Besborough, was appointed cornet in the tenth dragoons, in 1800, and rose, in 1803, to the commission of captain in the same corps, from which he exchanged to the sixtieth regiment, in 1806. In 1807, he was appointed major in the twenty-third light dragoons, at the head of which corps he distinguished himself at the battle of Talavera, in 1809, and was promoted, in 1810, to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the regiment. In 1811 he served under Lieut.-General Graham, at Cadiz: and at the battle of Barossa, in March of that year, he attacked, with a squadron of German dragoons, the French cavalry covering the retreat, overthrew them, took two guns, and even attempted, though vainly, to sabre Rousseau’s battalions. On the 11th of June, 1811, he was appointed lieut.-colonel of the twelfth light dragoons; at the head of which corps he served under Lord Wellington, and distinguished himself, in April, 1812, at Llerena, in one of the most brilliant cavalry actions during the war. At the battle of Salamanca he charged the French infantry, broke his sword in the fight, and his horse received several bayonet wounds. He repeatedly evinced great judgment, penetration, and resolution in the out-post duty, and was wounded in the retreat from Burgos, on the 13th of October, 1812. At the battle of Vittoria he again distinguished himself: his services at Tolosa, St. Sebastian, and Nive were also conspicuous; and, on the king’s birth-day, in 1814, he was promoted to the rank of colonel in the army. He commanded the twelfth light dragoons at the battle of Waterloo, where he led his regiment to the charge with signal intrepidity,—received sabre cuts on both arms,—was brought to the ground by a blow on the head,—pierced through the back by a lancer,—plundered by a tirailleur,—ridden over by two squadrons of cavalry,—and plundered a second time by a Prussian soldier; but afterwards recovered of his wounds. His services were rewarded with the following marks of royal favour:—Knight Companion of the order of the Bath,—Knight Grand Cross of the order of St. Michael and St. George,—Knight Commander of the Hanoverian Guelphic order,—a cross,—a Waterloo medal,—Knight of the Tower and Sword of Portugal,—and Knight of Maria Theresa of Austria. In January, 1824, he was nominated inspecting field officer in the Ionian Islands; he was promoted brigadier-general on the staff of those islands, in March, 1824; and in June, 1825, he was advanced to the rank of major-general. He was removed to the staff of Malta, and retained the command of the troops in that island until May, 1835. In December, 1835, he obtained the colonelcy of the Eighty-sixth Regiment, from which he was removed to the royal dragoons in the following year. He was an ornament to his profession. In him, military talent was united with the most chivalrous bravery,—calm judgment,—cool decision,—resolute action, and modest deportment. He died on the 10th of January, 1837.

James Watson.

Appointed 31st March, 1836.

Removed to the fourteenth foot, 24th May, 1837.

Sir Arthur Brooke, KCB.

Appointed 24th May, 1837.

London: Harrison and Co., Printers, St. Martin’s Lane.