Historical Record of the Thirty-fourth, or the Cumberland Regiment of Foot / containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1702 and of its subsequent services to 1844

by Richard Cannon

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS

OF THE

THIRTY-FOURTH,

OR,

THE CUMBERLAND REGIMENT

OF

FOOT.

---

Robert Lord Lucas.

Appointed 12th February, 1702.

Robert Lord Lucas was distinguished for his attachment to the interests of civil and religious liberty; and at the revolution in 1688, when King James II. had fled in disguise, and London was in great confusion, his Lordship was nominated, by a committee assembled for the preservation of tranquillity, to take the charge of the Tower. This appointment was confirmed to Lord Lucas by King William III., who gave his Lordship a commission of Governor of the Tower of London.

Lord Lucas entered the army, and served under King William in Flanders; and he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Thirteenth Regiment, commanded by Sir John Jacobs. On the breaking out of the war of the Spanish succession, his Lordship took great interest in raising a regiment of foot, now the Thirty-fourth, of which he was appointed colonel by King William, in February, 1702.

Queen Anne superseded his Lordship’s commission as Governor of the Tower, and appointed the Earl of Abingdon to that dignity, with the title of Constable.

Lord Lucas retained the colonelcy of his regiment until his decease, on the 31st of January, 1705; when the dignity of Baron Lucas of Shenfield, in Essex, became extinct.

Hans Hamilton.

Appointed 1st February, 1705.

Hans Hamilton served in the wars of King William III., and acquired the reputation of a brave and meritorious officer: he was afterwards nominated to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Earl of Derby’s Regiment, now Sixteenth Foot, with which corps he proceeded to the Netherlands in the summer of 1701. He served under the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough, during the campaigns of 1702 and 1703, in the Netherlands, and also in Germany in 1704, when the victories at Schellenberg and Blenheim exalted the reputation of the British arms. In February, 1705, he was rewarded with the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth; and in the same year he was nominated quartermaster-general to the expedition to Spain, under General the Earl of Peterborough, and he served at the capture of Barcelona; also in other important transactions until 1706. He subsequently proceeded to Flanders, and having been promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in 1710, he commanded a brigade, under the Duke of Marlborough, during the campaign of 1711, when the enemy’s celebrated lines were passed at Arleux, and the fortress of Bouchain was besieged and captured. In 1713 he was removed to the Sixteenth Regiment, with which corps his early services were connected: and in 1715 he was succeeded by Richard Viscount Irwing. He died on the 24th of October, 1721.

Thomas Chudleigh.

Appointed 30th November, 1712.

The early services of Colonel Chudleigh were connected with the Sixteenth Regiment of Foot, with which corps he served with reputation, under the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough, and his meritorious conduct was rewarded with the lieutenant-colonelcy of his regiment; from which he was promoted in 1712, to the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, with which corps he proceeded to Ireland in 1717. In 1723, he retired from the service, selling his commission. He died on the 14th of April, 1726.

Robert Hayes.

Appointed 18th February, 1723.

This officer served in the First Foot Guards, in which corps he rose to the rank of captain and lieutenant-colonel, and in February, 1723, he obtained the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, by purchase. He proceeded with his regiment to the relief of Gibraltar, when that fortress was besieged by the Spaniards, in 1727: and subsequently sailed from Gibraltar in command of a body of troops, for Jamaica; where he died on the 7th of April, 1731.

Stephen Cornwallis.

Appointed 8th January, 1732.

Stephen Cornwallis was appointed to a commission in the Second Foot Guards, in March, 1719; and in 1723, he was promoted captain in the Ninth Dragoons; he was afterwards nominated captain and lieutenant-colonel in the Third Foot Guards, and procured the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Regiment in 1732: in 1738 he was removed to the Eleventh Foot. On the commencement of the war with Spain in 1739, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and in 1742 he accompanied the army to Flanders, under Field-Marshal the Earl of Stair: in February, 1743, he was promoted to the rank of major-general. He died in Germany, in May, 1743; at which period he was a member of parliament for Eye.

Lord James Cavendish.

Appointed 1st November, 1738.

Lord James Cavendish, second son of William (second) Duke of Devonshire, was many years an officer in the Third Foot Guards, in which corps he rose to the rank of captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1730, and in 1738, he was promoted to the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Regiment: he was a member of parliament for Molton. His decease occurred in November, 1741.

The Honorable James Cholmondeley.

Appointed 18th December, 1742.

The Honorable James Cholmondeley, third son of George (second) Earl of Cholmondeley, obtained the commission of guidon and major in the Second Troop, now Second Regiment, of Life Guards, in 1725; in 1731, he was nominated lieutenant and lieutenant-colonel in the third troop of Life Guards; and in 1741 he was promoted to the colonelcy of the Forty-eighth, from which he was removed, in 1742, to the Thirty-fourth Regiment. Accompanying his regiment to Flanders in 1744, he served the campaign of that year, under Field-Marshal Wade. He was at the battle of Fontenoy in 1745; and was afterwards promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. On the breaking out of the rebellion in Scotland, he returned to England with a brigade of infantry, and afterwards took the charge of two battalions which had arrived from Ireland, with which he joined the army under Field-Marshal Wade. On the flight of the rebels from Derby, he was detached to Scotland; and he commanded a brigade of infantry at the battle of Falkirk, on the 17th of January, 1746, when he highly distinguished himself; but the excessive fatigue he underwent, with continued exposure to severe weather, deprived him of the use of his limbs for some time. In 1747, he was promoted to the rank of major-general; and he was removed in 1749, to the Twelfth Dragoons. He was again removed, in November of the same year, to the Third Irish Horse (now Sixth Dragoon Guards); and in 1750, to the Sixth Dragoons. In 1754, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general; and he was many years lieutenant-governor of Chester. He died in 1775.

The Honorable Henry Seymour Conway.

Appointed 24th July, 1749.

The Honorable Henry Seymour Conway, second son of Lord Conway, and brother of Francis Earl of Hertford, was appointed lieutenant in the First Foot Guards in 1737, captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1741, and in 1746 he was appointed aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland, and promoted to the colonelcy of the Fifty-ninth (now Forty-eighth) Foot. He was removed to the Thirty-fourth Regiment in 1749, to the Thirteenth Dragoons in 1751, and to the Fourth Horse (now Eighth Dragoon Guards) in 1754. In 1756 he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and in 1759 to that of lieutenant-general: he was removed to the Royal Dragoons in the same year. He commanded a division of the allied army in Germany, under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, in 1761; and the British forces in Germany were placed under his orders during the absence of the Marquis of Granby. He was also one of the grooms of the bedchamber to His Majesty, and a member of parliament; and having voted against ministers on the great question of military warrants, in 1764, he resigned his court appointment and military commands; but in 1768 he was appointed colonel of the Fourth Dragoons. In 1770 he was removed to the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards; in 1772, he was promoted to the rank of general; in 1782, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the army, and in 1793 he was promoted to the rank of field-marshal. He died in 1795; at which period he was eldest general officer and first field-marshal in the army.

Charles Russell.

Appointed 17th December, 1751.

Charles Russell was many years an officer in the Foot Guards; he rose to the rank of captain and lieutenant-colonel in the First Regiment, and was promoted to major, with the rank of colonel, in the Second, or Coldstream, Regiment, in 1745; in 1751 he was nominated colonel of the Thirty-fourth Regiment of Foot. He died on the 20th November, 1754.

Thomas Earl of Effingham.

Appointed 2nd December, 1754.

Lord Thomas Howard succeeded to the title of Earl of Effingham in February, 1743, and on the 11th of April following he was nominated lieutenant-colonel in the Second Troop, now Second Regiment, of Life Guards. In 1749 he was appointed one of His Majesty’s aides-de-camp, with the rank of colonel; and in 1754 he obtained the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Regiment. His lordship was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1758; and was removed to the colonelcy of the First Troop of Horse Grenadier Guards in 1760. His decease occurred in November, 1763.

Lord Frederick Cavendish.

Appointed 30th October, 1760.

Lord Frederick Cavendish, third son of William (third) Duke of Devonshire, was honored with having the Prince of Wales, (father of King George III.,) for his godfather. Choosing the profession of arms, he entered the army as ensign in the First Foot Guards, and was appointed lieutenant and captain in the Second Foot Guards in 1752; in 1755 he was nominated lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-ninth Regiment; he was honored with the appointment of aide-de-camp to King George II., with the rank of colonel, in 1758, and in 1759 he obtained the colonelcy of the Sixty-seventh Regiment, from which he was removed in 1760 to the Thirty-fourth. He was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1761,—to that of lieutenant-general in 1770,—general in 1782,—and field-marshal in 1796. In 1797 he resigned the colonelcy of his regiment. He died in October, 1803.

George Ferdinand Lord Southampton.

Appointed 13th July, 1797.

The Honorable George Ferdinand Fitzroy, eldest son of Charles (first) Lord Southampton, son of the Duke of Grafton, was appointed captain in the Forty-first Regiment on the 25th of December, 1787, and was promoted to the majority of the Fifty-first Foot on the 25th of April, 1792; in February, 1793, he was advanced to the commission of captain and lieutenant-colonel in the Second Foot Guards, and he received the brevet rank of colonel in May, 1796. On the decease of his father in March, 1797, he succeeded to the title of Lord Southampton; and in July following he was nominated colonel of the Thirty-fourth Regiment. His lordship obtained the rank of major-general in 1801, and of lieutenant-general in 1808. He died in June, 1810.

Sir Eyre Coote, G.C.B.

Appointed 25th June, 1810.

This officer was appointed ensign in the Thirty-seventh Regiment on the 15th of April, 1774, and proceeding to North America at the commencement of the American war, he had repeated opportunities of distinguishing himself. He served at the capture of Long Island, and carried the regimental colour of his corps at the battle of Brooklyn, on the 27th of August, 1776. He also served at the capture of New York, and at the reduction of Fort Washington, and subsequently accompanied the expedition to Rhode Island; in the same year he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He proceeded with the expedition to Pennsylvania, and served at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, in 1777, and of Monmouth in 1778; also at the reduction of Mud Island. On the 10th of August, 1778, he was promoted to captain of a company in his regiment, in which rank he was present at the attack of Washington’s dragoons, in New Jersey. He proceeded with the expedition to South Carolina, and served at the siege of Charlestown, in 1780. He also shared in the fatigues, privations, and engagements of the campaign, under Major-General Earl Cornwallis, in the Carolinas and in Virginia, and was made prisoner at the surrender of York Town, on the 18th of October, 1781. On being liberated, Captain Coote returned to England, and was appointed major of the Forty-seventh Regiment in February, 1783. After serving five years in Ireland, he was nominated lieutenant-colonel of the Seventieth, in March, 1788; and in 1793 he was selected to command the first battalion of light infantry, in the expedition to the West Indies, under General Sir Charles (afterwards Earl) Grey, who captured the islands of Martinique, St. Lucia, and Guadaloupe. Lieutenant-Colonel Coote had opportunities of distinguishing himself at the reduction of these colonies, and being afterwards sent to England with despatches, he was nominated aide-de-camp to King George III., with the rank of colonel, in 1795. In 1796 he was appointed brigadier-general on the staff of Ireland; in 1798 he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and removed to the staff of South Britain; and after commanding at Dover a short period, he proceeded to Flanders, in charge of an expedition for the destruction of the sluices and works of the canal near Ostend, which was accomplished; but before the troops could re-embark, they were attacked by superior numbers, and forced to surrender. Major-General Coote was wounded on this occasion. After his exchange, he returned to his command at Dover. In 1799 he commanded a brigade in the expedition to Holland, under his Royal Highness the Duke of York; and after the return of the army, he resumed the command of the troops at Dover. In 1800 he proceeded with the expedition against Ferrol, and when the attack on that fortress was relinquished, he joined the armament in the Mediterranean, and accompanied General Sir Ralph Abercromby to Egypt. He commanded the leading division of the army which effected a landing in the Bay of Aboukir, on the 8th of March, 1801, and distinguished himself on that occasion, for which he was thanked, in orders, by Sir Ralph Abercromby. He commanded a brigade in the actions before Alexandria, and when the advance to Cairo was undertaken, he was left in command of the troops before Alexandria. After taking a distinguished part in delivering Egypt from the power of France, he returned to England, where he received the thanks of both houses of parliament, the approbation of his Sovereign, and was honored with the dignity of Knight of the Bath, and the first class of the Turkish Order of the Crescent.

On the 1st of January, 1805, Sir Eyre Coote was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and nominated lieutenant-governor of Jamaica, where he resided upwards of three years. Returning to England, he was appointed to the command of a division of the army sent, in the summer of 1809, against Holland, under the Earl of Chatham. He was appointed colonel of the Sixty-second Regiment in 1806, and removed to the Thirty-fourth in 1810: in 1814, he was promoted to the rank of general. He was removed from the service on the 21st May, 1816.

The Honorable Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, G.C.B.

Appointed 21st May, 1816.

The Honorable Galbraith Lowry Cole, son of the Earl of Enniskillen, entered the army a short time before the commencement of the French revolutionary war, and the contest which followed afforded him frequent opportunities for the display of professional ability. He was appointed captain in the Seventieth Foot, on the 30th of November, 1792, major of the Hundred and Second regiment on the 31st of October, 1793, lieutenant-colonel of Ward’s Regiment in November, 1793, and lieutenant-colonel of Villette’s corps in April, 1799; on the 1st of January, 1801, he was promoted to the rank of colonel. He served in Sicily, under Major-General Stuart,—was engaged in the invasion of Calabria, and had the honor of commanding a brigade at the battle of Maida, on the 4th of July, 1806, when the superiority of British courage and discipline was fully proved.

He was promoted to the rank of major-general in April, 1808, and was subsequently placed on the staff of the army in the Peninsula, where he commanded a division in numerous battles and skirmishes, in which the reputation of the British arms was exalted, and the enemies of England were overthrown by the superior prowess of the British troops. He received the local rank of lieutenant-general in Portugal and Spain in 1811,—the colonelcy of the One Hundred and Third Regiment in 1812,—the rank of lieutenant-general in 1813,—and the colonelcy of the Seventieth Regiment in January, 1814. After taking a conspicuous part in delivering Portugal and Spain from the power of the Emperor of France, he led his division through the Pyrenees, and shared in the struggle for the liberties of Europe, until the final overthrow of the power of Napoleon, and the restoration of the Bourbon family to the throne of France. He was rewarded with the honor of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and received a cross and four clasps for commanding a brigade at the battle of Maida, and a division at the battles of Albuhera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, and Toulouse.

The Honorable Sir G. Lowry Cole, G.C.B., was nominated governor of the Mauritius; in 1816 he was appointed colonel of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, and in 1818 he obtained the government of Gravesend and Tilbury Fort. He was removed to the Twenty-seventh Regiment in 1826, and promoted to the rank of general in 1830. He died at Highfield Park, Hartford Bridge, on the 5th of October, 1842.

Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, Baronet, G.C.B., and G.C.H.

Appointed 16th December, 1826.