George Robert Gleig
Encyclopedia
George Robert Gleig was a Scottish
soldier and military writer.
Gleig was born in Stirling
. His parents were George Gleig
(1753 – 1840), Bishop of Brechin
from October 1808) and Janet, née Hamilton.
On 1813-06-21, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
had his first victory in Spain
over the French
, at the battle of Vitoria. One month later a young student of divinity, George Robert Gleig, gave up a scholarship to Balliol College
to join Wellington’s army as an Ensign in the 85th Light Infantry. His father, by then Bishop of Brechin, furnished him with £20, a substantial sum, though he notes that the rate at which he could buy readily exchangeable gold coins was poor — he had to pay 6s for every gold dollar, and £5 for a doubloon. On 7 October, Wellington crossed into France for the first time.
On 6 April 1814, Napoléon abdicated, though Wellington did not find out until the 12th. By then, on 10 April he had fought and won the decisive battle of the war at Toulouse
. The young divinity student was then sent to the war against the United States
, where he fought in five battles (Bladensburg
, Baltimore
, New Orleans
, Washington
and Fort Bayo) and was three times wounded; after peace broke out he resumed his scholarship at Oxford
in 1816.
Gleig married in 1819, while at Oxford. Having taken his B.A. and M.A., the young Gleig took holy orders in 1820. He became curate of Westwell, Kent
, and was later appointed to two additional parishes, as curate of Ash
and as Rector of Ivychurch
. He wrote a series of articles for Blackwood's Magazine
on his Peninsular War
experiences; they were collected into a book, published in 1825: “The Subaltern”. In 1821 he authored an account of his experiences in the USA as "The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans" Under Generals Ross, Pakenham and Lambert. In 1829 he was invited to meet Wellington, and became a regular house-guest of the Duke. The Rev G R Glieg also wrote 'The Life of the Duke of Wellington' a revised edition was published by Longmans, Green & Co London in 1890.
In 1832 George Robert Gleig, by then Chaplain to the Chelsea Hospital — the Chelsea Pensioners — and a well-known author, mainly on military matters, publicly opposed the Reform Bill
before Parliament.
Gleig had excellent relations with the Duke of Wellington, but that did not stop the Iron Duke
from issuing a public reprimand in 1840 to Gleig for his plan to educate NCOs and private soldiers:
Gleig was appointed Chaplain-General of the Forces in 1844, resigned 1875; from 1846 to 1857 he was Inspector-General of Military Schools.
Gleig was a frequent contributor to reviews and magazines, especially Blackwood's Magazine
, in which his best-known novel, The Subaltern, appeared in instalments. He was also the author of Lives of Warren Hastings
, Robert Clive, and Wellington
, Military Commanders, Chelsea Pensioners, and other works.
He died at Stratfield Turgis
, Hampshire
in 1888.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
soldier and military writer.
Gleig was born in Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
. His parents were George Gleig
George Gleig
George Gleig was a Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.He was born at Boghall, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of a farmer. At the age of thirteen he entered King's College, University of Aberdeen, where the first prize in mathematics and physical and moral sciences fell to him...
(1753 – 1840), Bishop of Brechin
Brechin
Brechin is a former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin is often described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese , but that status has not been officially recognised in the modern era...
from October 1808) and Janet, née Hamilton.
On 1813-06-21, 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...
had his first victory in 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...
over the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, at the battle of Vitoria. One month later a young student of divinity, George Robert Gleig, gave up a scholarship to Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
to join Wellington’s army as an Ensign in the 85th Light Infantry. His father, by then Bishop of Brechin, furnished him with £20, a substantial sum, though he notes that the rate at which he could buy readily exchangeable gold coins was poor — he had to pay 6s for every gold dollar, and £5 for a doubloon. On 7 October, Wellington crossed into France for the first time.
On 6 April 1814, Napoléon abdicated, though Wellington did not find out until the 12th. By then, on 10 April he had fought and won the decisive battle of the war at Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
. The young divinity student was then sent to the war against the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he fought in five battles (Bladensburg
Battle of Bladensburg
The Battle of Bladensburg took place during the War of 1812. The defeat of the American forces there allowed the British to capture and burn the public buildings of Washington, D.C...
, Baltimore
Battle of Baltimore
The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...
, New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Fort Bayo) and was three times wounded; after peace broke out he resumed his scholarship at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1816.
Gleig married in 1819, while at Oxford. Having taken his B.A. and M.A., the young Gleig took holy orders in 1820. He became curate of Westwell, Kent
Westwell, Kent
Westwell is a village and civil parish with a population of 740, located north of Ashford in Kent, South East England.The Pilgrims' Way runs close to the village on the Downs and was travelled by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury...
, and was later appointed to two additional parishes, as curate of Ash
Ash (near Sandwich)
Ash is a village and civil parish in the Dover district of east Kent about three miles west of Sandwich.The civil parish has a population of 2,767, and includes the villages of Ash, Westmarsh, Ware and Hoaden. The Ash Level, by the River Stour, takes up the northern part of the parish.-History:Ash...
and as Rector of Ivychurch
Ivychurch
For Ivychurch, Wiltshire, see Ivychurch PrioryIvychurch is a village and civil parish in the Shepway District of Kent, England. The village is located on the Romney Marsh, three miles north-west of New Romney. The parish council consists of five members.The village has a public house but has...
. He wrote a series of articles for Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine was a British magazine and miscellany printed between 1817 and 1980. It was founded by the publisher William Blackwood and was originally called the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine. The first number appeared in April 1817 under the editorship of Thomas Pringle and James Cleghorn...
on his Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
experiences; they were collected into a book, published in 1825: “The Subaltern”. In 1821 he authored an account of his experiences in the USA as "The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans" Under Generals Ross, Pakenham and Lambert. In 1829 he was invited to meet Wellington, and became a regular house-guest of the Duke. The Rev G R Glieg also wrote 'The Life of the Duke of Wellington' a revised edition was published by Longmans, Green & Co London in 1890.
In 1832 George Robert Gleig, by then Chaplain to the Chelsea Hospital — the Chelsea Pensioners — and a well-known author, mainly on military matters, publicly opposed the Reform Bill
Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
before Parliament.
Gleig had excellent relations with the Duke of Wellington, but that did not stop the Iron Duke
Iron Duke
Iron Duke may refer to:*Two dukes, both military officers, were nicknamed the "Iron Duke" during their lifetimes:**Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington***The Iron Duke , 1934 film starring George Arliss as Wellington...
from issuing a public reprimand in 1840 to Gleig for his plan to educate NCOs and private soldiers:
- By Jove! If there is a mutiny in the army – and in all probability we shall have one – you’ll see that these new-fangled schoolmasters will be at the bottom of it.
Gleig was appointed Chaplain-General of the Forces in 1844, resigned 1875; from 1846 to 1857 he was Inspector-General of Military Schools.
Gleig was a frequent contributor to reviews and magazines, especially Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine was a British magazine and miscellany printed between 1817 and 1980. It was founded by the publisher William Blackwood and was originally called the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine. The first number appeared in April 1817 under the editorship of Thomas Pringle and James Cleghorn...
, in which his best-known novel, The Subaltern, appeared in instalments. He was also the author of Lives of Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
, Robert Clive, and 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...
, Military Commanders, Chelsea Pensioners, and other works.
He died at Stratfield Turgis
Stratfield Turgis
Stratfield Turgis is a small village and civil parish in the north-east of the English county of Hampshire.-History:The name of Stratfield Turgis derives from its origins on open land by the Roman road from Silchester to London, and the Turgis family, who held the manor of the de Ports and St...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in 1888.