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John Oswald (British Army officer)
Encyclopedia
General
Sir John Oswald, GCB, GCMG (2 October 1771 – 8 June 1840) was a prominent British Army
officer during the French Revolutionary
and Napoleonic Wars
whose service was conducted in seven different theatres of war. Oswald was born in Fife
and educated in France, which gave him both excellent command of the French language and close connections with the French aristocracy. The excesses of the French Revolution
gave him a hatred of the French Republic and later Empire, and his exemplary service in the West Indies, the Netherlands, Malta, Italy, Egypt, the Adriatic and finally the Peninsular War
demonstrated both his keen tactical and strategic understanding his and personal courage.
Highly commended for his war service, Oswald later took an interest in politics, unsuccessfully attempting to enter parliament but using his influence in the army to support the Conservatives
. He married twice and had several children, and was invested in two knightly orders following his retirement from the army in recognition of his service. He died in 1840 at his family estate in Fife.
. In approximately 1785 he was sent to school in France, the prestigious military academy at Brienne-le-Château
, where he formed a lasting friendship with Louis-Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne, future secretary to Napoleon. Oswald spent many school holidays with his friends in Paris
and developed an affection for France and the French language that he retained throughout his life. Oswald returned to Britain in 1788 and purchased a commission
as a second lieutenant
in the 23rd Regiment of Foot, he was promoted first lieutenant
on transfer to the 7th Regiment of Foot the following year. In 1790 he was with his regiment when they were stationed at Gibraltar
and in 1791 was given an independent company as a temporary captain
, an appointment confirmed two months later accompanied by a transfer to the 35th Regiment of Foot.
The French Revolution
and the consequent Reign of Terror
resulted in the deaths of many of Oswald's school friends, creating in Oswald a lifelong hatred of the French Republic and the principles it was based on. At the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars
, the 35th was ordered to the West Indies, Oswald resigning his appointment as a staff officer (brigade major
) to accompany them. A few months later, Oswald was serving in the Caribbean with a detachment of local troops with the temporary rank of major. In this role he participated in the capture of Martinique
, St Lucia and Guadeloupe
and the invasion of San Domingo, before being sent back to Britain in 1795 to act as a recruiting officer. He was promoted to the regimental rank of major on 22 September 1795, and on 1 April 1797, Oswald purchased the rank of lieutenant colonel and command of the 35th.
and transported home. In 1800 the regiment was attached to the force under Henry Pigot that operated against Malta
from Minorca
. Oswald was present at the invasion of Malta and the successful siege of Valletta
. He took over official command of the regiment in the aftermath of this operation and remained in the Mediterranean until the Peace of Amiens in 1802.
When the Napoleonic Wars
broke out in 1803, Oswald returned to Malta to rejoin his regiment. In 1805, the 35th was attached to General Sir James Craig
's force that landed in Sicily
and Oswald took part the following year in the invasion of Calabria
under Sir John Stuart
, fighting at the Battle of Maida
and besieging Scylla Castle and forcing its surrender. On his return to Sicily, Oswald was appointed brigadier-general
. He was promoted colonel on 2 November 1805.
In 1807, Oswald and the 35th were sent to Egypt under Alexander Mackenzie-Fraser
participating in the Alexandria expedition of 1807 against the Ottoman Empire
. Oswald was particularly noted for his actions in the storming of a Turkish trench line that forced the Ottoman troops to retreat into Alexandria's city walls. After the surrender of the city, Oswald advanced to Rosetta
and there fought a running battle for fifteen days against superior Turkish forces before being ordered to withdraw. Returning to Sicily in 1808, Oswald was detached from his regiment and took command of a brigade, participating in raids on the Italian coast and commanding at first Augusta and subsequently Procida
, which he had helped capture. In 1809, Oswald was given command of the force sent to invade the Ionian Islands
, capturing Zante, Ithaca
, Cephalonia and Cerigo.
In 1810, still in the Adriatic, Oswald gathered 2,000 British and Greeks soldiers and invaded Santa Maura, capturing the island in eight days despite some heavy fighting. For these exploits Oswald was made governor of the islands, simultaneously allowing the Greek population its first measure of independence, maintaining British rule and forming good diplomatic relations with the Turkish governors of mainland Greece
. In 1811 he returned to Britain leaving Richard Church
in command of the islands although Oswald retained the title governor until 1815. On his return, Oswald was promoted to major-general and married Charlotte Murray-Aynsley, granddaughter of the Duke of Atholl
.
In October 1812, Oswald was attached to the general staff of the British Army in Spain fighting the Peninsular War
. Oswald's arrival coincided with the army's retreat from Burgos
, during which Oswald was with the Duke of Wellington
at a cavalry rearguard action on 24 October and later that week took temporary command of the 5th Division. In command of this force, Oswald was engaged with the French at Villa Muriel and along the River Carrión and saw it into winter quarters on the River Douro
. In the spring of 1813, Oswald commanded the division on Wellington's march through Spain and was engaged at the Battle of Osma on 17 June and the much larger Battle of Vittoria four days later.
, but was replaced by the returning General James Leith
two days before the assault on 31 August. Oswald, now commanding a brigade, was wounded in the attack on the city and returned to Britain to recuperate. While in England, Oswald was recalled to his father's estates, which fell to him as the result of the recent death of his elder brother and his father's failing health. Oswald retired from active service and managed his father's property, receiving the thanks of parliament for his service and two gold medal
s with clasps for Maida, Vittoria and San Sebastian. In 1815, Oswald was listed 54th amongst the first appointments as Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) on the restructuring of the order, and continued to accumulate awards, honours and promotions during his retirement, becoming Colonel Commandant
of one of the battalions in the Rifle Brigade and later Colonel of the Regiment of the 35th Regiment of Foot, and also a Deputy Lieutenant
of Fife. He was advanced to full general and made Knight Grand Cross of both the Order of the Bath (GCB) and the Order of St Michael and St George
(GCMG).
Oswald was a staunch conservative who once ran unsuccessfully for Member of Parliament
for the constituency of Fife
. Oswald remained a popular figure in British society and politics until his death, noted for his bravery, good looks, public speaking and literary tastes. Following the death of his first wife in 1827, he married her cousin Emily Jane Murray. Oswald died on 8 June 1840 at his home in Fife.
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir John Oswald, GCB, GCMG (2 October 1771 – 8 June 1840) was a prominent 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...
officer during the French Revolutionary
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
whose service was conducted in seven different theatres of war. Oswald was born in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
and educated in France, which gave him both excellent command of the French language and close connections with the French aristocracy. The excesses of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
gave him a hatred of the French Republic and later Empire, and his exemplary service in the West Indies, the Netherlands, Malta, Italy, Egypt, the Adriatic and finally 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...
demonstrated both his keen tactical and strategic understanding his and personal courage.
Highly commended for his war service, Oswald later took an interest in politics, unsuccessfully attempting to enter parliament but using his influence in the army to support the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. He married twice and had several children, and was invested in two knightly orders following his retirement from the army in recognition of his service. He died in 1840 at his family estate in Fife.
Early life
John Oswald was born in 1771 in Fife, the son of James Townsend OswaldJames Townsend Oswald
James Townsend Oswald was a Scottish politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1768 and 1779.Oswald was the son of James Oswald a politician of Kirkcaldy. The Oswald family became the dominant force in Kirkcaldy politics in the 18th century and Dysart, the second largest burgh was...
. In approximately 1785 he was sent to school in France, the prestigious military academy at Brienne-le-Château
Brienne-le-Château
Brienne-le-Château is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France. It is located from the right bank of the Aube River and 26 m. northeast of Troyes....
, where he formed a lasting friendship with Louis-Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne, future secretary to Napoleon. Oswald spent many school holidays with his friends in 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...
and developed an affection for France and the French language that he retained throughout his life. Oswald returned to Britain in 1788 and purchased a commission
Sale of commissions
The sale of commissions was a common practice in most European armies where wealthy and noble officers purchased their rank. Only the Imperial Russian Army and the Prussian Army never used such a system. While initially shunned in the French Revolutionary Army, it was eventually revived in the...
as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 23rd Regiment of Foot, he was promoted first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on transfer to the 7th Regiment of Foot the following year. In 1790 he was with his regiment when they were stationed at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
and in 1791 was given an independent company as a temporary captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
, an appointment confirmed two months later accompanied by a transfer to the 35th Regiment of Foot.
The French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
and the consequent Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
resulted in the deaths of many of Oswald's school friends, creating in Oswald a lifelong hatred of the French Republic and the principles it was based on. At the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, the 35th was ordered to the West Indies, Oswald resigning his appointment as a staff officer (brigade major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
) to accompany them. A few months later, Oswald was serving in the Caribbean with a detachment of local troops with the temporary rank of major. In this role he participated in the capture of Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, St Lucia and Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
and the invasion of San Domingo, before being sent back to Britain in 1795 to act as a recruiting officer. He was promoted to the regimental rank of major on 22 September 1795, and on 1 April 1797, Oswald purchased the rank of lieutenant colonel and command of the 35th.
Military service
In 1799, Oswald and his regiment participated in the failed invasion of the Netherlands, where Oswald was seriously wounded at the Battle of BergenBattle of Bergen (1799)
The Battle of Bergen, also called the Battle of Bergen-Binnen, was fought on 19 September 1799, and resulted in a French-Dutch victory under General Brune and General Daendels against the Russians and British under the Duke of York who had landed in North Holland...
and transported home. In 1800 the regiment was attached to the force under Henry Pigot that operated against Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
from Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
. Oswald was present at the invasion of Malta and the successful siege of Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
. He took over official command of the regiment in the aftermath of this operation and remained in the Mediterranean until the Peace of Amiens in 1802.
When the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
broke out in 1803, Oswald returned to Malta to rejoin his regiment. In 1805, the 35th was attached to General Sir James Craig
James Henry Craig
General Sir James Henry Craig KB was a British military officer and colonial administrator.-Early life and military service:...
's force that landed 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,...
and Oswald took part the following year in the invasion of Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
under Sir John Stuart
John Stuart, Count of Maida
Sir John Stuart, Count of Maida GCB , was a British Lieutenant-General during the Napoleonic Wars.Stuart was born in Georgia, the son of Colonel John Stuart, superintendent of Indian affairs in the southern district, and a prominent loyalist in the War of Independence...
, fighting at the Battle of 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...
and besieging Scylla Castle and forcing its surrender. On his return to Sicily, Oswald was appointed brigadier-general
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
. He was promoted colonel on 2 November 1805.
In 1807, Oswald and the 35th were sent to Egypt under Alexander Mackenzie-Fraser
Alexander Mackenzie-Fraser
Lieutenant General Alexander Mackenzie-Fraser was a British General. He was known as Mackenzie until he took additional name of Fraser in 1803.- Family and early life :...
participating in the Alexandria expedition of 1807 against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Oswald was particularly noted for his actions in the storming of a Turkish trench line that forced the Ottoman troops to retreat into Alexandria's city walls. After the surrender of the city, Oswald advanced to Rosetta
Rosetta
Rosetta is a port city on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. It is located east of Alexandria, in Beheira governorate. It was founded around AD 800....
and there fought a running battle for fifteen days against superior Turkish forces before being ordered to withdraw. Returning to Sicily in 1808, Oswald was detached from his regiment and took command of a brigade, participating in raids on the Italian coast and commanding at first Augusta and subsequently Procida
Procida
Procida is one of the Flegrean Islands off the coast of Naples in southern Italy. The island is between Cape Miseno and the island of Ischia. With its tiny satellite island of Vivara, it is a comune of the province of Naples, in the region of Campania. The population is about ten...
, which he had helped capture. In 1809, Oswald was given command of the force sent to invade the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
, capturing Zante, Ithaca
Ithaca
Ithaca or Ithaka is an island located in the Ionian Sea, in Greece, with an area of and a little more than three thousand inhabitants. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It lies off the northeast coast of Kefalonia and...
, Cephalonia and Cerigo.
In 1810, still in the Adriatic, Oswald gathered 2,000 British and Greeks soldiers and invaded Santa Maura, capturing the island in eight days despite some heavy fighting. For these exploits Oswald was made governor of the islands, simultaneously allowing the Greek population its first measure of independence, maintaining British rule and forming good diplomatic relations with the Turkish governors of mainland Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. In 1811 he returned to Britain leaving Richard Church
Richard Church (general)
Sir Richard Church KCH, CB ,For the date of death see relevant Section of the article explaining the discrepancy of sources was a military officer in the British Army and general in the Greek army during the last stages of the Greek Revolution after 1827 and elected politician in Greece, member of...
in command of the islands although Oswald retained the title governor until 1815. On his return, Oswald was promoted to major-general and married Charlotte Murray-Aynsley, granddaughter of the Duke of Atholl
John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl
John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl KT, PC , known as John Murray until 1764, was a Scottish peer and Tory politician.-Background:...
.
In October 1812, Oswald was attached to the general staff of the British Army in Spain fighting 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...
. Oswald's arrival coincided with the army's retreat from Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
, during which Oswald was with the 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...
at a cavalry rearguard action on 24 October and later that week took temporary command of the 5th Division. In command of this force, Oswald was engaged with the French at Villa Muriel and along the River Carrión and saw it into winter quarters on the River Douro
Douro
The Douro or Duero is one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, flowing from its source near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province across northern-central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Porto...
. In the spring of 1813, Oswald commanded the division on Wellington's march through Spain and was engaged at the Battle of Osma on 17 June and the much larger Battle of Vittoria four days later.
Retirement
Following Vittoria, Oswald lead the division to the Siege of San SebastianSiege of San Sebastian
In the Siege of San Sebastián Allied forces under the command of General Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington captured the city of San Sebastián in northern Spain from its French garrison under Brigadier-General Louis Rey...
, but was replaced by the returning General James Leith
James Leith (British Army infantry officer)
General Sir James Leith GCB commanded the 5th Division in the Duke of Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese army at several critical battles during the Peninsular War between 1810 and 1813.-Early career:...
two days before the assault on 31 August. Oswald, now commanding a brigade, was wounded in the attack on the city and returned to Britain to recuperate. While in England, Oswald was recalled to his father's estates, which fell to him as the result of the recent death of his elder brother and his father's failing health. Oswald retired from active service and managed his father's property, receiving the thanks of parliament for his service and two 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...
s with clasps for Maida, Vittoria and San Sebastian. In 1815, Oswald was listed 54th amongst the first appointments as Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) on the restructuring of the order, and continued to accumulate awards, honours and promotions during his retirement, becoming Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels...
of one of the battalions in the Rifle Brigade and later Colonel of the Regiment of the 35th Regiment of Foot, and also a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Fife. He was advanced to full general and made Knight Grand Cross of both the Order of the Bath (GCB) and the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(GCMG).
Oswald was a staunch conservative who once ran unsuccessfully for Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the constituency of Fife
Fife (UK Parliament constituency)
Fife was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 until 1885, when it was divided into East Fife and West Fife....
. Oswald remained a popular figure in British society and politics until his death, noted for his bravery, good looks, public speaking and literary tastes. Following the death of his first wife in 1827, he married her cousin Emily Jane Murray. Oswald died on 8 June 1840 at his home in Fife.