Sir Walter Gilbert, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
General Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert, first baronet
(18 March 1785, Bodmin
– 12 May 1853, Stevens' Hotel, Bond Street
, London) was an army officer in the British East India Company
.
and rector of Helland
, Cornwall, and his wife, the daughter of Henry Garnett of Bristol. Like Sir Humphrey Gilbert
, he was a member of the Devon family of Gilbert of Compton and he was named after Sir Humphrey's stepbrother Sir Walter Raleigh
.
He gained a cadetship in the Bengal Infantry in 1800, and in September the following year was posted to the 15th Bengal Native Infantry (commanded by Colonel John Macdonald
) as ensign. Arriving in India in October 1801, he then became lieutenant on 12 September 1803 and captain on 16 April 1810. Participating in the defeat of Perron's brigades at Koil
, Aligarh, the battles of Delhi
, Laswari and the storming of Agra
. He also attracted the attention of Lord Lake
by his participation in the four unsuccessful attacks on Bharatpur
. In 1814, in Calcutta, he married Isabella Rose Ross, the daughter of Thomas Ross, a major in the Royal Artillery
- the marriage produced Sir Francis Hastings Gilbert in 1816 (later British consul at Scutari
), Geraldine Adelaide (b. 1817 in Bodmin).
Next he was successively barrack-master and cantonment magistrate at Cawnpore, commandant of the Calcutta native militia, and commandant of the Ramgarh
local battalion. Promoted to major on 12 November 1820, he then became lieutenant-colonel of the newly formed 39th Bengal native infantry in 1824, colonel of the 35th native infantry and of the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers in 1832, major-general in June 1838 and finally lieutenant-general in November 1851. During the First Anglo-Sikh War
he commanded a division of Sir Hugh Gough
's army at the battles of Mudki
and Ferozeshahr (December 1845), and at Sobraon
(10 February 1846) - Gough mentioned him favourably in his dispatches.
He was made a KCB
in April 1846 and again commanded a division under Gough in the Second Anglo-Sikh War
, at the 1849 battles of Chilianwala and Gujrat before leading his division (which included Robert Napier
) across the Jhelum River
to pursue the remnants of the Sikh army and receiving their surrender on 3 and 6 March. He next pursued the Sikhs' Afghan allies right up to the Khyber Pass
, and in reward was appointed GCB
in June 1849 and a baronet in 1850. Becoming known as a sportsman as well as a soldier in India, on his death a memorial obelisk was erected on the Bodmin Beacon, though his baronetcy became extinct on his son Francis's death.
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
(18 March 1785, Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
– 12 May 1853, Stevens' Hotel, Bond Street
Bond Street
Bond Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London that runs north-south through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. It has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century and is currently the home of many high price fashion shops...
, London) was an army officer in the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
.
Life
He was the third son of the Revd Edmund Gilbert (d. 1816), vicar of ConstantineConstantine, Kerrier
Constantine is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately five miles west-southwest of Falmouth....
and rector of Helland
Helland
Helland is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated 2½ miles north of Bodmin. The meaning of the name Helland is unclear: it is possible that the origin is in Cornish hen & lan...
, Cornwall, and his wife, the daughter of Henry Garnett of Bristol. Like Sir Humphrey Gilbert
Humphrey Gilbert
Sir Humphrey Gilbert of Devon in England was a half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh. Adventurer, explorer, member of parliament, and soldier, he served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and was a pioneer of English colonization in North America and the Plantations of Ireland.-Early life:Gilbert...
, he was a member of the Devon family of Gilbert of Compton and he was named after Sir Humphrey's stepbrother Sir Walter Raleigh
Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England....
.
He gained a cadetship in the Bengal Infantry in 1800, and in September the following year was posted to the 15th Bengal Native Infantry (commanded by Colonel John Macdonald
John Macdonald
John Macdonald may refer to:*John S. MacDonald, co-founder of MacDonald Dettwiler*John Macdonald , New Zealand forensic psychiatrist who coined the MacDonald triad of sociopathy- Government :...
) as ensign. Arriving in India in October 1801, he then became lieutenant on 12 September 1803 and captain on 16 April 1810. Participating in the defeat of Perron's brigades at Koil
Koil
Koil or Kovil "King's House" is the Tamil term for a distinct style of Hindu temple with Dravidian architecture.The koil in Tamil Nadu and kovil of Ceylon has a long history and has always been associated with the ruler of the time. Most kings patronised temple building in their kingdom, and...
, Aligarh, the battles of Delhi
Battle of Delhi
The Battle of Delhi took place on 11 September 1803 during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, between British troops under General Lake, and Marathas of Scindia's army under French General Louis Bourquin...
, Laswari and the storming of Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
. He also attracted the attention of Lord Lake
Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake
General Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake was a British general. He commanded British forces during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and later served as Commander-in-Chief of the military in British India.-Background:...
by his participation in the four unsuccessful attacks on Bharatpur
Bharatpur, India
Bharatpur is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733. Located in the Brij region, Bharatpur was once an impregnable, well-planned and well-fortified city, and the capital of Jat kingdom ruled by Sinsinwar Maharajas.The trio of Bharatpur, Deeg and...
. In 1814, in Calcutta, he married Isabella Rose Ross, the daughter of Thomas Ross, a major in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- the marriage produced Sir Francis Hastings Gilbert in 1816 (later British consul at Scutari
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
), Geraldine Adelaide (b. 1817 in Bodmin).
Next he was successively barrack-master and cantonment magistrate at Cawnpore, commandant of the Calcutta native militia, and commandant of the Ramgarh
Ramgarh
Ramgarh Raj was a major Zamindari in the era of the British Raj.The areas that would later comprise the Ramgarh Raj had initially belonged to the Raja of Chhota Nagpur. Around the year AD 1368, the area witnessed unrest for reasons not now known. The Raja deputed two brothers by name Baghdeo and...
local battalion. Promoted to major on 12 November 1820, he then became lieutenant-colonel of the newly formed 39th Bengal native infantry in 1824, colonel of the 35th native infantry and of the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers in 1832, major-general in June 1838 and finally lieutenant-general in November 1851. During the First Anglo-Sikh War
First Anglo-Sikh War
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company between 1845 and 1846. It resulted in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom.-Background and causes of the war:...
he commanded a division of Sir Hugh Gough
Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough
Field Marshal Sir Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough, KP, GCSI, KCB, PC , was an Irish British Army officer. He was said to have commanded in more general actions than any other British officer of the 19th century except the Duke of Wellington.- Early career :Born at Woodstown House, Co...
's army at the battles of Mudki
Battle of Mudki
The Battle of Mudki was fought on 18 December 1845, between the forces of the British East India Company and part of the Khalsa, the army of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab. The British army won an untidy encounter battle, suffering heavy casualties....
and Ferozeshahr (December 1845), and at Sobraon
Battle of Sobraon
The Battle of Sobraon was fought on 10 February 1846, between the forces of the British East India Company and the Sikh Khalsa Army, the army of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab...
(10 February 1846) - Gough mentioned him favourably in his dispatches.
He was made a KCB
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 April 1846 and again commanded a division under Gough in the Second Anglo-Sikh War
Second Anglo-Sikh War
The Second Anglo-Sikh War took place in 1848 and 1849, between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company. It resulted in the subjugation of the Sikh Empire, and the annexation of the Punjab and what subsequently became the North-West Frontier Province by the East India Company.-Background...
, at the 1849 battles of Chilianwala and Gujrat before leading his division (which included Robert Napier
Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala
Field Marshal Robert Cornelis Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala, GCB, GCSI, CIE, FRS was a British soldier.-Early life:...
) across the Jhelum River
Jhelum River
Jehlum River or Jhelum River , ) is a river that flows in India and Pakistan. It is the largest and most western of the five rivers of Punjab, and passes through Jhelum District...
to pursue the remnants of the Sikh army and receiving their surrender on 3 and 6 March. He next pursued the Sikhs' Afghan allies right up to the Khyber Pass
Khyber Pass
The Khyber Pass, is a mountain pass linking Pakistan and Afghanistan.The Pass was an integral part of the ancient Silk Road. It is mentioned in the Bible as the "Pesh Habor," and it is one of the oldest known passes in the world....
, and in reward was appointed 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 June 1849 and a baronet in 1850. Becoming known as a sportsman as well as a soldier in India, on his death a memorial obelisk was erected on the Bodmin Beacon, though his baronetcy became extinct on his son Francis's death.