William Adlam
Encyclopedia
Major General William Adlam (1750–1823) was an English British Army
soldier and artist. He was descended from a long line of distinguished soldiers
.
Adlam
served in the American War of Independence as a captain in the army in the 40th Regiment of Foot. His regiment's order book
is preserved in the Library of Congress
.
He was somewhat a renaissance man, an admirer of the French philosopher Voltaire
and in 1780, whilst a lieutenant colonel, produced a print of Voltaire sitting at his desk.
He later served with Lord Nelson in the battles of Copenhagen
, Ushant
and the Nile
, and was aboard the same ship with Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar
, when Nelson was shot.
When the war with Napoleon broke out he served under Lords Wellington
and Napier
, and was quartered in the Netherlands
until 1816. He then returned to Dover Castle
, was made major-general in 1820, retired on half pay, and in 1823, died at 73 years of age, leaving a family of sixteen children.
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...
soldier and artist. He was descended from a long line of distinguished soldiers
Adlam
Adlam is an old English noble surname derived from the Anglo Saxon Adel helm or Eagle Shield, also translated as Noble Protector.They are a distinguished military family originally from Wiltshire whose exploits mirror the course of English history:...
.
Adlam
Adlam
Adlam is an old English noble surname derived from the Anglo Saxon Adel helm or Eagle Shield, also translated as Noble Protector.They are a distinguished military family originally from Wiltshire whose exploits mirror the course of English history:...
served in the American War of Independence as a captain in the army in the 40th Regiment of Foot. His regiment's order book
Order book
An order book is a businesses list of open, unshipped, customer orders, normally time-phased and valued at actual individual order prices, that may include margin and profitability analysis....
is preserved in the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
.
He was somewhat a renaissance man, an admirer of the French philosopher Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
and in 1780, whilst a lieutenant colonel, produced a print of Voltaire sitting at his desk.
He later served with Lord Nelson in the battles of Copenhagen
Battle of Copenhagen (1801)
The Battle of Copenhagen was an engagement which saw a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker fight and strategically defeat a Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson led the main attack. He famously disobeyed Parker's...
, Ushant
Battle of Ushant
Battle of Ushant may refer to:*Battle of Ushant , fought west of Ushant, a large but inconclusive engagement in the American War of Independence*Battle of Ushant , a convoy battle, also during the American War of Independence...
and the Nile
Battle of the Nile
The Battle of the Nile was a major naval battle fought between British and French fleets at Aboukir Bay on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt from 1–3 August 1798...
, and was aboard the same ship with Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
, when Nelson was shot.
When the war with Napoleon broke out he served under Lords 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...
and Napier
William Napier, 9th Lord Napier
William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier was a Royal Navy officer, politician and diplomat.- Early life :He was the son of Francis Napier, 8th Lord Napier and the father of Francis Napier, 10th Lord Napier and 1st Baron Ettrick . He served during the battle of Trafalgar as a midshipman...
, and was quartered in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
until 1816. He then returned to Dover Castle
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
, was made major-general in 1820, retired on half pay, and in 1823, died at 73 years of age, leaving a family of sixteen children.