Robert Brownrigg
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Robert Brownrigg, 1st Baronet GCB
(1759 – 27 April 1833) was a British
statesman and soldier.
in 1775. After service with the 9th Foot, he was appointed Military Secretary to the Duke of York
in 1795, and accompanied him to The Helder in Holland in 1799.
In 1803 he was appointed Quartermaster-General to the Forces
. In July 1809, he joined the expedition to the Schelt
.
He left his post as Quartermaster-General to the Forces in 1811, and then, in 1813, he was appointed Governor of Ceylon. In 1815, he conquered the Kingdom of Kandy
, in the interior of the island, and annexed it to the British crown. In recognition of his conquest, Brownrigg was created a baronet
in 1816. There was a major rebellion in October 1818 but Brownrigg also managed to put this down. He attained the rank of full General
in 1819 and left Ceylon the following year. He died near Monmouth
in 1833.
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 Robert Brownrigg, 1st Baronet 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...
(1759 – 27 April 1833) 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...
statesman and soldier.
Military career
Brownrigg 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 1775. After service with the 9th Foot, he was appointed Military Secretary 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...
in 1795, and accompanied him to The Helder in Holland in 1799.
In 1803 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:...
. In July 1809, he joined the expedition to the Schelt
Walcheren Campaign
The Walcheren Campaign was an unsuccessful British expedition to the Netherlands in 1809 intended to open another front in the Austrian Empire's struggle with France during the War of the Fifth Coalition. Around 40,000 soldiers, 15,000 horses together with field artillery and two siege trains...
.
He left his post as Quartermaster-General to the Forces in 1811, and then, in 1813, he was appointed Governor of Ceylon. In 1815, he conquered the Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy was an important independent monarchy of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century...
, in the interior of the island, and annexed it to the British crown. In recognition of his conquest, Brownrigg was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1816. There was a major rebellion in October 1818 but Brownrigg also managed to put this down. He attained the rank of full 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 1819 and left Ceylon the following year. He died near Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
in 1833.