George Charles D'Aguilar
Encyclopedia
Major-General
Sir George Charles D'Aguilar, KCB
(Chinese:
德忌笠 or 德己立) (1784–1855) was a British Army
Major General
and Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong
.
and Margaret Gillmer (1753–1829). The d'Aguilars were a military family directly descended from the 'Great Captain', Gonzalo Hernandez y Aguilar, Duke of Cordova and Terra Nova, who distinguished himself at the conquest of Grenada in the time of Ferdinand and Isabella. His cousin and contemporary, Ltieutenant-Colonel George Thomas d'Aguilar (1783–1839) married Catherine Burton, the aunt of the noted explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton
.
who were then serving in the East Indies
. He remained there until 1808, and during that time served for two years on the general staff
of the army, as Brigade Major, and three years as Adjutant of the 86th Foot (consisting of nearly the whole of Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
's administration).
He was with the regiment at the reduction of various forts in the Malwa and Guzerat districts and at Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake
's unsuccessful assaults on Bharatpur, India
. Having been promoted to a company in the 81st, he returned to England
in May, 1809, and the following month embarked for Walcheren
. After the fall of Flushing, Netherlands
he was appointed aide-de-camp
to Lieutenant-General Mahon, afterwards Lord Hartland, until he returned to England with the cavalry
under Mahon. In 1809 he married Eliza, second daughter of Peter Drinkwater of Irwell House, Lancashire
.
He was subsequently on the staff as assistant adjutant-general in Sicily
, where he was sent by Lord William Bentinck
on a military mission to the court of Ali Pasha
at Yanina and Constantinople
. He also served as military secretary to the army on the Eastern coast of Spain
under Sir John Murray, 8th Baronet
and Sir William Henry Clinton
.
In 1813 he was appointed a major in the Greek Light Infantry and took command of the regiment prior to the final reduction of the Greek Islands. In 1815 he joined Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
's army and was present at the capture of Paris
. In 1817 he was appointed a Major with the Rifle Brigade and placed on half-pay.
Altogether d'Aguilar served for twenty six years on the general staff
, during eight of which he was assistant adjutant-general at the Horse Guards, principally under Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
, and for twelve years assistant adjutant-general of the army in Ireland
. In 1841 he promoted to Major-General.
and Commander of the British troops in China
. In 1847 he commanded the expedition which assauted and took the forts of the Bocca Tigris
. The following year, 1848, he returned to England
. In 1851 he was appointed to command the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers
.
The Headquarter House (renamed to Flagstaff House
, which is located in Hong Kong Park
) was built for him in 1846. Cape D'Aguilar
and D'Aguilar Street
in Hong Kong were named after him. The town of D'Aguilar
in Queensland
was also named after him.
He died in London
in May, 1855.
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
Sir George Charles D'Aguilar, KCB
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...
(Chinese:
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
德忌笠 or 德己立) (1784–1855) was a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong
Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong
Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong was the second highest position during the British colonial rule in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1902.-History:Although Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong was the second highest position in Hong Kong, the Lieutenant Governor did not have any actual power in the Government...
.
Background
He was born the son of Solomon d'Aguilar (1752–1817) of LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Margaret Gillmer (1753–1829). The d'Aguilars were a military family directly descended from the 'Great Captain', Gonzalo Hernandez y Aguilar, Duke of Cordova and Terra Nova, who distinguished himself at the conquest of Grenada in the time of Ferdinand and Isabella. His cousin and contemporary, Ltieutenant-Colonel George Thomas d'Aguilar (1783–1839) married Catherine Burton, the aunt of the noted explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton
Richard Francis Burton
Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS was a British geographer, explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia, Africa and the Americas as well as his...
.
Military service
He entered the army in 1799 as an ensign with the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot
The 86th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1793 and amalgamated into The Royal Irish Rifles following the Childers Reforms in 1881....
who were then serving in the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
. He remained there until 1808, and during that time served for two years on the general staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
of the army, as Brigade Major, and three years as Adjutant of the 86th Foot (consisting of nearly the whole of Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
Richard Colley Wesley, later Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, KG, PC, PC , styled Viscount Wellesley from birth until 1781, was an Anglo-Irish politician and colonial administrator....
's administration).
He was with the regiment at the reduction of various forts in the Malwa and Guzerat districts and at Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake
Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake
General Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake was a British general. He commanded British forces during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and later served as Commander-in-Chief of the military in British India.-Background:...
's unsuccessful assaults on Bharatpur, India
Bharatpur, India
Bharatpur is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733. Located in the Brij region, Bharatpur was once an impregnable, well-planned and well-fortified city, and the capital of Jat kingdom ruled by Sinsinwar Maharajas.The trio of Bharatpur, Deeg and...
. Having been promoted to a company in the 81st, he returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in May, 1809, and the following month embarked for Walcheren
Walcheren
thumb|right|250px|Campveer Tower in Veere, built in 1500Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Oosterschelde in the north and the Westerschelde in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus...
. After the fall of Flushing, Netherlands
Flushing, Netherlands
Vlissingen is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. With its strategic location between the Scheldt river and the North Sea, Vlissingen has been an important harbour for centuries. It was granted city rights in 1315. In the 17th century...
he was appointed 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...
to Lieutenant-General Mahon, afterwards Lord Hartland, until he returned to England with the cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
under Mahon. In 1809 he married Eliza, second daughter of Peter Drinkwater of Irwell House, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
He was subsequently on the staff as assistant adjutant-general in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, where he was sent by Lord William Bentinck
Lord William Bentinck
Lieutenant-General Lord William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck GCB, GCH, PC , known as Lord William Bentinck, was a British soldier and statesman...
on a military mission to the court of Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
at Yanina and Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. He also served as military secretary to the army on the Eastern coast of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
under Sir John Murray, 8th Baronet
Sir John Murray, 8th Baronet
General Sir John Murray, 8th Baronet, GCH led a brigade under Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War. Later in the war, he commanded an independent force that operated on the east coast of Spain....
and Sir William Henry Clinton
William Henry Clinton
General Sir William Henry Clinton GCB was a British general during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars as well as the First Miguelist War...
.
In 1813 he was appointed a major in the Greek Light Infantry and took command of the regiment prior to the final reduction of the Greek Islands. In 1815 he joined Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
's army and was present at the capture of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1817 he was appointed a Major with the Rifle Brigade and placed on half-pay.
Altogether d'Aguilar served for twenty six years on the general staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
, during eight of which he was assistant adjutant-general at the Horse Guards, principally under Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany was a member of the Hanoverian and British Royal Family, the second eldest child, and second son, of King George III...
, and for twelve years assistant adjutant-general of the army in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In 1841 he promoted to Major-General.
Lieutenant-Governor of Hong Kong
In 1843 d'Aguilar was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Hong KongLieutenant Governor of Hong Kong
Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong was the second highest position during the British colonial rule in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1902.-History:Although Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong was the second highest position in Hong Kong, the Lieutenant Governor did not have any actual power in the Government...
and Commander of the British troops in China
Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
The Commander British Forces in Hong Kong was a senior British Army officer who acted as Military Advisor to the Governor of Hong Kong.-Structure:...
. In 1847 he commanded the expedition which assauted and took the forts of the Bocca Tigris
Bocca Tigris
The Bocca Tigris, Bogue, or Humen is a narrow strait in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong, People's Republic of China, where the Pearl River discharges into the South China Sea. The strait is formed by the islands of Chuenpee and Anunghoy on the eastern side and Tycocktow on the western side...
. The following year, 1848, he returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1851 he was appointed to command the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers
Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
.
The Headquarter House (renamed to Flagstaff House
Flagstaff House
Flagstaff House is the oldest example of British-style architecture remaining in Hong Kong. It is located in 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Central - within the Hong Kong Park....
, which is located in Hong Kong Park
Hong Kong Park
The Hong Kong Park is a public park next to Cotton Tree Drive in Central, Hong Kong. Built at a cost of HK$398 million and opened in May 1991, it covers an area of 80,000 m² and is an example of modern design and facilities blending with natural landscape....
) was built for him in 1846. Cape D'Aguilar
Cape D'Aguilar
Cape D'Aguilar, or Hok Tsui, is a cape in the south of Shek O and D'Aguilar Peak on southeastern Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The peninsula, where the cape is on its southeastern side, is also known as Cape D'Aguilar...
and D'Aguilar Street
D'Aguilar Street
D'Aguilar Street is a street in Central, Hong Kong. It is an L-shaped street starting from Queen's Road Central, at Entertainment Building. It runs uphill and meets various featured streets Stanley Street, Wellington Street, Wo On Lane and Lan Kwai Fong in the area...
in Hong Kong were named after him. The town of D'Aguilar
D'Aguilar, Queensland
D'Aguilar is a rural township in Queensland, Australia. Located northwest of the larger centre of Caboolture, it is located within the Moreton Bay Region. At the 2006 census, the locality recorded a population of 1,094 persons, living in 373 inhabited dwellings, all of which were detached...
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
was also named after him.
He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in May, 1855.