Charles Craufurd
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Gregan Craufurd GCB
(1761–1821) was a Scottish soldier.
Craufurd was the second son of Sir Alexander Crauford, 1st Baronet (see Crauford Baronets
), and the elder brother of Robert Craufurd
. He entered the 1st Dragoon Guards in 1778. Made captain in the Queen's Bays in 1785, he became the equerry
and intimate friend of the Duke of York. He studied in Germany
for some time, and, with his brother Robert's assistance, translated Tielke's book on the Seven Years' War
(The Remarkable Events of the War between Prussia, Austria and Russia from 1756 to 1763). As aide-de-camp
he accompanied the duke of York to the French War in 1793, and was at once sent as commissioner to the Austrian headquarters, with which he was present at Neerwinden
, Caesar's Camp, Famars, Landrecies, etc.
Promoted to major
in 1793, and lieutenant-colonel in 1794, he returned to the British Army in the latter year, and on one occasion distinguished himself at the head of two squadrons, taking 3 guns and 1000 prisoners. (See the Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies
.) When the British army left the continent Craufurd was again attached to the Austrian Army
, and was present at the actions on the Lahn, the combat of Neumarkt, and the battle of Amberg. At the last battle a severe wound rendered him incapable of further service, and cut short a promising career. He succeeded his brother Robert as Member of Parliament
(MP) for East Retford
(1806-1812). He died in 1821, having become a lieutenant-general and a GCB
.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(1761–1821) was a Scottish soldier.
Craufurd was the second son of Sir Alexander Crauford, 1st Baronet (see Crauford Baronets
Crauford Baronets
The Crauford Baronetcy, of Kilbirney in south-west Scotland , is a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 8 June 1781 for Alexander Crauford, the member of an ancient Scottish family...
), and the elder brother of Robert Craufurd
Robert Craufurd
Major-General Robert Craufurd was a Scottish soldier and Member of Parliament . After a military career which took him from India to the Netherlands, he was given command of the Light Division in the Napoleonic Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington...
. He entered the 1st Dragoon Guards in 1778. Made captain in the Queen's Bays in 1785, he became the equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
and intimate friend of the Duke of York. He studied in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for some time, and, with his brother Robert's assistance, translated Tielke's book on the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
(The Remarkable Events of the War between Prussia, Austria and Russia from 1756 to 1763). As aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
he accompanied the duke of York to the French War in 1793, and was at once sent as commissioner to the Austrian headquarters, with which he was present at Neerwinden
Battle of Neerwinden (1793)
The Battle of Neerwinden took place on near the village of Neerwinden in present-day Belgium between the Austrians under Prince Josias of Coburg and the French under General Dumouriez...
, Caesar's Camp, Famars, Landrecies, etc.
Promoted to major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1793, and lieutenant-colonel in 1794, he returned to the British Army in the latter year, and on one occasion distinguished himself at the head of two squadrons, taking 3 guns and 1000 prisoners. (See the Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies
Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies
In the Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies, fought on 24 April 1794, a small Anglo-Austrian cavalry force routed a vastly more numerous French division during the Flanders Campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars...
.) When the British army left the continent Craufurd was again attached to the Austrian Army
Imperial and Royal Army during the Napoleonic Wars
The Imperial and Royal Army was that of the Austrian Empire, formed on 11 August 1804 preceding the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire ruled by the Habsburgs, under Emperor Francis II .-Background to the army:...
, and was present at the actions on the Lahn, the combat of Neumarkt, and the battle of Amberg. At the last battle a severe wound rendered him incapable of further service, and cut short a promising career. He succeeded his brother Robert as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for East Retford
East Retford (UK Parliament constituency)
East Retford was a parliamentary constituency in Nottinghamshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons for the first time in 1316, and continuously from 1571 until 1885, when the constituency was abolished...
(1806-1812). He died in 1821, having become a lieutenant-general and a GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
.
Literature
- Tielke, Johann Gottlieb: An account of some of the most remarkable events of the war between the Prussians, Austrians and Russians, from 1756 to 1763: and a treatise on several branches of the military art, with plans and maps. Translated from the second edition of the German original of J. G. Tielke, by Captain C. Craufurd, ... and Captain R. Craufurd.