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.