William Henry Beaumont de Horsey
Encyclopedia
William Henry Beaumont de Horsey (died 6 May 1915) was a British soldier.
He was the son of Spencer Horsey de Horsey
and brother of Algernon Frederick Rous de Horsey
and Adeline Louisa Marie de Horsey. He was educated at Eton College
.
At the age of sixteen he joined the Army, and through the influence of the Duke of Wellington
he was commissioned as Ensign and Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards
on 22 November 1844. His promotion to Lieutenant and Captain was purchased on 22 March 1850. He served in the Crimean War
, and was given army rank as Major by brevet dated 12 December 1854. On 13 March 1857 was promoted to Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel, again by purchase, and on 2 March 1858 he was authorised to accept the Order of the Medjidie, fifth class, conferred upon him by Sultan Abdülmecid I
of Turkey.
On 29 April 1868 he was granted brevet rank of Colonel in the army, and on 9 April 1870 was appointed to the regimental rank of Major. On 27 February 1872 he served as Field Officer in Brigade Waiting
for the Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral following the recovery of the Prince of Wales
from typhoid. On 22 September 1875 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and on 15 September 1877, having served nearly thirty-three years in the regiment, he retired on half-pay. On 7 May 1878, when he was living at 1 Cleveland Row, St James's, his bankruptcy was announced in the Gazette
. Nevertheless, on 11 June 1878 his promotion to Major-General was announced, effective from 13 February 1878. On 13 February 1883 he retired from the Army with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-General, due to ill-health.
He was the son of Spencer Horsey de Horsey
Spencer Horsey de Horsey
Spencer Horsey de Horsey , known until 1832 as Spencer Horsey Kilderbee, was a British Tory politician. He sat in the House of Commons between 1829 and 1841.- Family :...
and brother of Algernon Frederick Rous de Horsey
Algernon Frederick Rous de Horsey
Admiral Sir Algernon Frederick Rous de Horsey KCB was a Royal Navy officer who served in the nineteenth century.-Early life:...
and Adeline Louisa Marie de Horsey. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
.
At the age of sixteen he joined the Army, and through the influence of 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...
he was commissioned as Ensign and Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
on 22 November 1844. His promotion to Lieutenant and Captain was purchased on 22 March 1850. He served in the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, and was given army rank as Major by brevet dated 12 December 1854. On 13 March 1857 was promoted to Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel, again by purchase, and on 2 March 1858 he was authorised to accept the Order of the Medjidie, fifth class, conferred upon him by Sultan Abdülmecid I
Abdülmecid I
Sultan Abdülmecid I, Abdul Mejid I, Abd-ul-Mejid I or Abd Al-Majid I Ghazi was the 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and succeeded his father Mahmud II on July 2, 1839. His reign was notable for the rise of nationalist movements within the empire's territories...
of Turkey.
On 29 April 1868 he was granted brevet rank of Colonel in the army, and on 9 April 1870 was appointed to the regimental rank of Major. On 27 February 1872 he served as Field Officer in Brigade Waiting
Field Officer in Brigade Waiting
The Field Officer in Brigade Waiting holds an appointment in the Royal Household. He performs his duties at State Ceremonies under the authority of the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Lord Chamberlain and the Earl Marshal....
for the Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral following the recovery of the Prince of Wales
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
from typhoid. On 22 September 1875 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and on 15 September 1877, having served nearly thirty-three years in the regiment, he retired on half-pay. On 7 May 1878, when he was living at 1 Cleveland Row, St James's, his bankruptcy was announced in the Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
. Nevertheless, on 11 June 1878 his promotion to Major-General was announced, effective from 13 February 1878. On 13 February 1883 he retired from the Army with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-General, due to ill-health.