Humphrey Bland
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Humphrey Bland (1686 – 8 May 1763) was a British Army
general who commanded the cavalry at the Battle of Culloden
.
in 1704. He was involved in operations against the Jacobite Rising of 1715.
He became a leading military theoretician and military writer: among his books, was A Treatise of Military Discipline: In Which is laid down and Explained the Duties of Officer and Soldier which was published in 1727 and "considered the bible of the British Army". A first edition was owned by George Washington
who encouraged his officers in the Continental Army
to "study Bland and other treatises."
In 1742 he was appointed Quartermaster-General to the Forces
, a post he held until his death.
Present at Battle of Dettingen
in 1743, he had his horse shot out from him. He was commander of a cavalry brigade in the Low Countries
between 1744 and 1745. Following the Jacobite Rising of 1745 he was commander of the cavalry at the Battle of Culloden
in 1746.
In 1747 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief
for Scotland
, and although he was Governor of Gibraltar
between 1749 and 1754, he resumed his role as Commander-in-Chief for Scotland from 1753 to 1756.
He was Colonel of the 1st Dragoon Guards.
He lived at Blandsfort, Abbeyleix
, County Laois
, Ireland
.
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...
general who commanded the cavalry at the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
.
Military career
Bland was commissioned as an ensignEnsign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in 1704. He was involved in operations against the Jacobite Rising of 1715.
He became a leading military theoretician and military writer: among his books, was A Treatise of Military Discipline: In Which is laid down and Explained the Duties of Officer and Soldier which was published in 1727 and "considered the bible of the British Army". A first edition was owned by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
who encouraged his officers in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
to "study Bland and other treatises."
In 1742 he was appointed Quartermaster-General to the Forces
Quartermaster-General to the Forces
In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is a senior general in the British Army.From 1904 the Quartermaster-General to the Forces was the Third Military Member of the Army Board.-Responsibilities:...
, a post he held until his death.
Present at Battle of Dettingen
Battle of Dettingen
The Battle of Dettingen took place on 27 June 1743 at Dettingen in Bavaria during the War of the Austrian Succession. It was the last time that a British monarch personally led his troops into battle...
in 1743, he had his horse shot out from him. He was commander of a cavalry brigade in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
between 1744 and 1745. Following the Jacobite Rising of 1745 he was commander of the cavalry at the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
in 1746.
In 1747 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
for Scotland
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...
, and although he was Governor of Gibraltar
Governor of Gibraltar
The Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar is the representative of the British monarch in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The Governor is appointed by the British Monarch on the advice of the British Government...
between 1749 and 1754, he resumed his role as Commander-in-Chief for Scotland from 1753 to 1756.
He was Colonel of the 1st Dragoon Guards.
He lived at Blandsfort, Abbeyleix
Abbeyleix
Abbeyleix is a town in County Laois, Ireland about from Portlaoise and located on the N77 national secondary route. Formerly the N8 National Primary Route ran through the centre of the town, making Abbeyleix an infamous bottleneck on the Dublin-Cork corridor with up to 15,000 vehicles passing...
, County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, 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...
.