General Sir James Macdonnell, GCB, KMT

Military Order of Maria Theresa

The Military Order of Maria Theresa was an Order of the Austro-Hungarian Empire founded on June 18, 1757, the day of the Battle of Kolin, by the Empress...

, KCH

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...

(1781- 15 May 1857) was the third son of Duncan Macdonnell of Glengarry

Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry

Clan MacDonell of Glengarry is a branch of Clan Donald taking its name from Glen Garry where the river Garry runs eastwards through Loch Garry to join the Great Glen about 16 miles north of Fort William...

.

Military career

In 1794, he was a lieutenant in the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot; in 1795, he was Captain in the 17th Dragoons

17th Regiment of Light Dragoons (1759)

The 17th Regiment of Light Dragoons was a cavalry regiment of the British Army raised in 1759 and disbanded in 1763.It was raised in Scotland by Captain Lord Aberdour in 1759, for service in the Seven Years' War, and disbanded following the Treaty of Paris in 1763.-References:"On the institution of...

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He joined the 19th Foot in 1796; he was major in the 78th Foot, and was awarded the Army Gold Medal

Army Gold Medal

The Army Gold Medal , also known as the Peninsular Gold Medal, with an accompanying Gold Cross, was a British campaign medal awarded in recognition of field and general officers' successful commands in recent campaigns, predominately the Peninsular War...

 for Maida

Battle of Maida

The Battle of Maida on 4 July 1806 saw a British expeditionary force fight a First French Empire division outside the town of Maida in Calabria, Italy during the Napoleonic Wars. John Stuart led 5,200 British troops to victory over about 6,000 French soldiers under Jean Reynier, inflicting...

 in 1806. He joined the Coldstream Guards

Coldstream Guards

Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....

 in 1811 as a Lieutenant Colonel, and served in the 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...

.

He is most famous for his command of the light troops defending Hougoumont

Hougoumont

Hougoumont was a fortified farm held by Wellington's army in the Battle of Waterloo. It may also refer to:* Hougoumont , a convict ship;...

 at the battle of Waterloo

Battle of Waterloo

The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...

, 1815, where he fought with great distinction, including leading the vital closing of the gates, with his sergeant, James Graham

James Graham (soldier)

James Graham was an Irish non-commissioned officer in the British Army during the Napoleonic wars, recognised as the "bravest man in the army". Serving in the Coldstream Guards, he was commended for his gallantry during the defence of Hougoumont, at Waterloo...

. He was wounded slightly in the battle.

He commanded the Brigade of Guards in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 from 1838 to 1841. He was promoted general

General

A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....

 in 1854.

Awards

He was awarded Order of the Bath, Knight's Cross of Maria Theresa, and Royal Guelphic Order for his service at Waterloo.

He was appointed Grand Cross in the Order of the Bath in 1855, Colonel-in-Chief of the 71st (Highland) Light Infantry.

Sources

• Julian Paget & Derek Saunders (1992); Hougoumont: The Key to Victory at Waterloo; Pen and Sword Books (paperback 2001) ISBN 0-85052-716-3