Harry Calvert
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Sir Harry Calvert, 1st Baronet GCB
GCH
(March 1763 – 3 September 1826) was a British
general.
, near London
. He was educated at Harrow
, and at the age of fifteen, was commissioned into the 23rd Foot (Royal Welsh Fusiliers)
. The following year he served with his regiment in America during the American Revolutionary War
. He was at the siege of Charleston
, and served through the campaign of Lord Cornwallis which ended with the surrender of Yorktown
. From 1781 to 1783 he was a prisoner of war
.
, where he was aide-de-camp to the Duke of York
. Sent to discuss surrender terms with the garrison of Valenciennes, he was present at the Siege of Dunkirk
25th Aug-10 September, and the relief of Menin on the 15th. Detached to the Austrian staff of Coburg, he was present at the Battle of Wattignies 15/16th Oct. Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, he remained on York’s staff 1794 and saw action at Beaumont
(Troisvilles) 26 April. At the Battle of Tourcoing 17/18 May, he narrowly escaped capture with York and was forced to swim the Espierre’s brook with him. He again saw action at Tournai (Pont-à-Chin) 22nd, the retreat to Antwerp, June–July, and in the Defence of Holland. In 1795 he was engaged on a confidential mission to Brunswick
and Berlin
.
One of York's “most trusted staff officers” his Journals & Correspondence remains a vital source of information on the Flanders Campaign of 1793-95.
, holding this role until 1818. In this capacity he effected many improvements in the organization and discipline of the service. He greatly improved the administration of the army medical and hospital department, introduced regimental schools, developed the two existing military colleges (since united at Sandhurst
), and was largely responsible for the founding of the Duke of York's School, Chelsea
. Promoted Major General on 29th Sept 1803, and Lieutenant General 25th Oct 1809, in recognition of his work as adjutant general he was made a GCB
in 1815, and, on retiring from office, received a baronet
cy in 1818. In 1820 he was made Lieutenant-Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
, and elevated to Full General 1821. He died on the 3rd of September 1826, at Middle Claydon
, Buckinghamshire
.
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...
GCH
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
(March 1763 – 3 September 1826) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
general.
Military career
He was born in 1763 at HamptonHampton, London
Hampton is a suburban area, centred on an old village on the north bank of the River Thames, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in England. Formerly it was in the county of Middlesex, which was formerly also its postal county. The population is about 9,500...
, near 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...
. He was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and at the age of fifteen, was commissioned into the 23rd Foot (Royal Welsh 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 following year he served with his regiment in America during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was at the siege of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, and served through the campaign of Lord Cornwallis which ended with the surrender of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
. From 1781 to 1783 he was a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
.
Flanders Campaign 1793-1795
Returning to England in 1784, he was promoted Captain 1785, then next saw active service in 1793 in the Campaign in the Low CountriesFlanders Campaign
This feature refers to the conflict that took place during the Wars of the French Revolution 1792–1801.For the Low Countries campaigns of the War of the Grand Alliance 1688–97 see Nine Years' War...
, where he was aide-de-camp to the Duke of York
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...
. Sent to discuss surrender terms with the garrison of Valenciennes, he was present at the Siege of Dunkirk
Siege of Dunkirk (1793)
See also the Battle of HondschooteThe Siege of Dunkirk took place in 1793 when British, Hanoverian, Austrian, and Hesse-Kassel troops under the command of Prince Frederick, Duke of York besieged the fortified French border port of Dunkirk as part as the Flanders campaign of the French Revolutionary...
25th Aug-10 September, and the relief of Menin on the 15th. Detached to the Austrian staff of Coburg, he was present at the Battle of Wattignies 15/16th Oct. Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, he remained on York’s staff 1794 and saw action at Beaumont
Battle of Beaumont (1794)
The Battle of Beaumont-en-Cambresis 26th April 1794 was an action forming part of a multi-pronged attempt to relieve the besieged fortress of Landrecies, during the Flanders Campaign of the French Revolutionary War...
(Troisvilles) 26 April. At the Battle of Tourcoing 17/18 May, he narrowly escaped capture with York and was forced to swim the Espierre’s brook with him. He again saw action at Tournai (Pont-à-Chin) 22nd, the retreat to Antwerp, June–July, and in the Defence of Holland. In 1795 he was engaged on a confidential mission to Brunswick
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
One of York's “most trusted staff officers” his Journals & Correspondence remains a vital source of information on the Flanders Campaign of 1793-95.
Administrator
On Calvert's return to Britain he was appointed Deputy Quartermaster General at the Horseguards, then Deputy Adjudant General 1796. He was made Colonel of the 5th West India Regt and Adjudant General 26th Jan 1797. At this time “Calvert was a rising star, already Deputy Adjudant General, and engaged to a niece of Mr. Greenwood, a partner in Cox, Greenwood, Cox & Co., the army agents. Malicious gossip had it that this connexion was likely to do more for him than any show of martial brilliance, for the Duke of York was known to have heavy financial obligations to the firm. But Calvert had more than good looks and influence; he stood firmly for the (staff) college”. In 1799, having already served as deputy Adjutant-General, he was made Adjutant-General to the ForcesAdjutant-General to the Forces
The Adjutant-General to the Forces, commonly just referred to as the Adjutant-General , is one of the most senior officers in the British Army. He is in charge of administration, personnel and organisational matters. The Adjutant-General usually holds the rank of General or Lieutenant-General...
, holding this role until 1818. In this capacity he effected many improvements in the organization and discipline of the service. He greatly improved the administration of the army medical and hospital department, introduced regimental schools, developed the two existing military colleges (since united at Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
), and was largely responsible for the founding of the Duke of York's School, Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. Promoted Major General on 29th Sept 1803, and Lieutenant General 25th Oct 1809, in recognition of his work as adjutant general he was made 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...
in 1815, and, on retiring from office, received a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
cy in 1818. In 1820 he was made Lieutenant-Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home and nursing home for British soldiers who are unfit for further duty due to injury or old age, located in the Chelsea region of central London, now the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is a true hospital in the original sense of the word,...
, and elevated to Full General 1821. He died on the 3rd of September 1826, at Middle Claydon
Middle Claydon
Middle Claydon is a village and also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is located about five miles south of Buckingham and three miles west of Winslow....
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.