British Regiments and the Men Who Led Them 1793-1815: 1st Regiment of Foot Guards

By Steve Brown

Regimental History

Colonels

Stations and Combats – 1st Battalion

Stations and Combats – 2nd Battalion

Stations and Combats – 3rd Battalion

Note: The Guards also formed a composite light infantry battalion (combined from flank companies of all three Foot Guards regiments) which existed from July 1794 to April 1795. This was re-formed for the raid on Ostend in 1798 and broken up in April 1802.

Stations and Combats – Light Battalion

There was also a composite grenadier battalion (formed in similar fashion) which existed from March 1793 to May 1795. This was re-formed for the 1799 campaign in the Helder and broken up in April 1802.

Stations and Combats – Grenadier Battalion

Careers of Senior Officers (shown as highest rank attained in regiment in the period)

Note: In an army that embraced a commission system riddled with idiosyncrasies, the ranking of Foots Guards officers stands out as easily the most obfuscating.

Each Foot Guards regiment had in theory one Lieutenant-Colonel, plus one Major per battalion (therefore the 1st Foot Guards had a 3rd, 2nd and 1st Major); and company officers were styled ‘Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel’ to make their status above line officers clear to all. But in addition, many of these officers held these regimental ranks whilst also being general officers in the Army.

For example, at the beginning of 1814, the 1st Foot Guards numbered 4 field officers (2 of whom were also Lieutenant-Generals and 2 were Major-Generals) and 17 Captain & Lieutenant-Colonels (1 of whom was also a Lieutenant-General, 4 were Major-Generals and 5 were Colonels in the Army). Frequently these officers were on detached duty, leaving the running of their companies to the senior Lieutenant (styled ‘Lieutenant & Captain’ in the Guards).

Therefore in theory a company in the Guards could have been commanded by a Captain who ranked the same as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the line, but who was also a Lieutenant-General in the Army. Hence why promotions through field officer and general ranks will appear intermingled in the chronological biographies below.

Because of this potentially confusing arrangement, I have omitted giving rank titles to officers in their headers - unlike the line regiments. This will avoid readers scratching their heads at the idea of captains commanding divisions. Readers will also no doubt note that a field command in the Guards was indeed a ticket to the top room.

All appointments between Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel are within the 1st Foot Guards unless noted otherwise.

Samuel Hulse

Born Hampshire 1746; brevet Colonel 20 November 1782; 2nd Major 12 March 1789; 1st Major 8 August 1792; Lieutenant-Colonel 30 April 1794; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards in Flanders 1793; commanded 1st Guards Brigade in Flanders 1794; subsequently Major-General 12 October 1793; Lieutenant-General 1 January 1798;  General 25 September 1803; Field-Marshal 1830; died 1831.

Kingsmill Evans

Born London 1741; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 1782; brevet Colonel 22 November 1790; died of wounds after Lincelles, 18 August 1793.

Thomas Glyn

Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 21 January 1782; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards late 1793; retired 5 March 1794.

Colin Campbell

Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel March 1782; brevet Colonel 1790; died on campaign in low countries October 1793.

Albemarle Bertie

Born London 1744; 3rd Major 12 March 1789; 2nd Major 8 August 1792; Colonel of 82nd Foot 19 September 1793; 9th Earl of Lindsey 1809; died 1818.

Edmund Stevens

Served in American War 1776 to 1778; 3rd Major 8 August 1792; 2nd Major 25 September 1793; 1st Major 30 April 1794; Lieutenant-Colonel 7 March 1795; Colonel of 65th Foot 11 October 1797; subsequently Major-General 12 October 1793; Lieutenant-General 1 January 1798; General 25 September 1803.

Augustus Maitland

Born Scotland 1761; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 8 August 1792; brevet Colonel May 1796; commanded 3/1st Foot Guards in Holland 1799; wounded at Beverwyck 6 October 1799 and died a few days later.

Patrick Bellew

3rd Major 25 September 1793; 2nd Major 30 April 1794; 1st Major 7 March 1795; retired October 1797.

Francis d’Oyly

3rd Major 30 April 1794; Major-General 4 October 1794; 2nd Major 7 March 1795; 1st Major 28 September 1797; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards 1797; Lieutenant-Colonel 11 October 1797; commanded 1st Guards Brigade in Holland 1799; Colonel-Commandant of 2/15th Foot 25 November 1799; Lieutenant-General 1 January 1801; died 1803.

Sir James Duff, Kt.

Commanded Guards flank battalion in Holland 1793; Major-General 4 October 1794; 3rd Major 7 March 1795; 2nd Major 28 September 1797; 1st Major 11 October 1797; Colonel of 50th Foot 1 January 1798; Major-General in Ireland during the 1798 rebellion; Lieutenant-General 1 January 1801; General 25 October 1809.

Andrew John Drummond

Born Perth, Scotland 1758; brevet Colonel 12 October 1792; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards late 1794; Major-General 26 February 1795; 3rd Major 28 September 1797; 2nd Major 11 October 1797; 1st Major 31 August 1798; Lieutenant-Colonel 25 November 1799; Colonel-Commandant of 2/5th Foot 21 August 1801; Lieutenant-General 29 April 1802; General 1 January 1812.

Francis J. Needham

Born Ireland 1748; served in American War; brevet Colonel 20 December 1793; Major-General 26 February 1795; 3rd Major 11 October 1797; 2nd Major 31 August 1798; commanded British troops at Battle of Arklow 1798; commanded brigade at Vinegar Hill 1798; 1st Major 25 November 1799; Lieutenant-Colonel 21 August 1801; Lieutenant-General 29 April 1802; General 1 January 1812; retired 10 December 1812.

Sir Harry Burrard

Born Jersey 1755; served in American War 1778-1779 and 1781-1782; brevet Colonel 1795; Major-General 1 January 1798; 3rd Major 31 August 1798; commanded 2nd Guards Brigade in Holland 1799; 2nd Major 25 November 1799; 1st Major 21 August 1801; Lieutenant-Colonel 16 April 1804; Lieutenant-General 1 January 1805; served in Peninsula August to October 1808; died 1813.

Sir Charles Asgill, Bart. G.C.H.

Born London 1762; served in the American War 1781; a POW at Yorktown, sentenced to hang but had his life spared on appeal from Louis XVI; brevet Colonel 26 February 1795; Brigadier-General in Ireland 1798; Major-General 1 January 1798; 3rd Major 25 October 1799; Colonel-Commandant 2/46th Foot 9 May 1800; Lieutenant-General 1 January 1805; General 4 June 1814.

George James Ludlow G.C.B.

Born 1758; served in American War 1781-1782; taken POW; lost left arm at Roubaix 1794; brevet Colonel 21 August 1795; Major-General 18 June 1798; 3rd Major 9 May 1800;  commanded 2nd Guards Brigade in Ireland and Egypt 1800-1802; Colonel of 38th Foot October 1805; Lieutenant-General 30 November 1805; 3rd Earl Ludlow in 1811; General 4 June 1814.

Hon. John Leslie (Cumming)

3rd Major 14 May 1801; 2nd Major 21 August 1801; Major-General 20 April 1802; Lieutenant-General 23 April 1808; 1st Major 16 April 1804; Lieutenant-Colonel 21 October 1813; General 12 August 1819; died 1824.

Henry Wynward

Brevet Colonel 3 May 1796; commanded composite Guards grenadier battalion in Holland 1798; 3rd Major 21 August 1801; Major-General 29 April 1802; 2nd Major 16 April 1804; commanded brigade in Sicily 1806; Lieutenant-General 25 May 1808; Colonel of 64th Foot 15 September 1809; General 12 August 1819.

William Thornton

Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 25 April 1793; Major-General 20 April 1802; 3rd Major 16 April 1804; Lieutenant-General 25 April 1808; 2nd Major 15 September 1808; retired before 1820.

William Caulfield Archer

Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 25 September 1793; commanded 3/1st Foot Guards in Holland late 1799 and early 1800; Major-General 20 April 1802; died 25 November 1807.

Hon. Edmund Phipps

Born London 1760; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 9 October 1793; Colonel-Commandant 3/60th Foot 25 August 1807; Major-General 27 August 1807; died 1837.

John Smith

Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 7 November 1793; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards 1803; to half-pay 20 August 1803.

Hon. Charles Fitzroy

Born Suffolk 1764; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 21 February 1794; commanded 3/1st Foot Guards in 1803; Major-General 25 March 1805; Colonel of 25th Foot 25 March 1805; died 1829.

Arthur Whetham

Born Nottinghamshire 1753; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 30 April 1794; Major-General 1 January 1805; 3rd Major 15 September 1808; Colonel-Commandant of 1/60th Foot April 1811; Lieutenant-General 4 June 1811; Governor of Portsmouth 1811-1813; died at Gosport 1813.

Henry Warde, G.C.B.

Born Kent 1766; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 15 October 1794; brevet Colonel 1 January 1801; Major-General 25 April 1808; commanded 1st Guards brigade in Peninsula October 1808 to January 1809; 3rd Major 14 February 1811; 2nd Major 30 July 1812; Lieutenant-General 4 June 1813; died 1834.

Sir William Henry Clinton G.C.B., G.C.H.

Born Hertfordshire 1769; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 29 December 1794; commanded Guards composite light battalion 1800; brevet Colonel 25 September 1809; Major-General 25 July 1810; 3rd Major 30 July 1812; commanded forces on east coast of Spain 1812 to 1814; 2nd Major 21 January 1813; 1st Major 21 October 1813; Colonel of 55th Foot 25 April 1814; Lieutenant-General 4 June 1814; died 1846.

Moore Disney, K.C.B.

Born Cork 1765; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 12 June 1795; brevet Colonel 29 April 1802; commanded 3/1st Foot Guards 1805; commanded a brigade in Peninsula October 1808 to January 1809; Major-General 25 October 1809; served on staff at Cadiz 1810 to 1811; 3rd Major 21 January 1813; 2nd Major 21 October 1813; 1st Major 28 April 1814; Lieutenant-General 4 June 1814; Colonel of 15th Foot 23 July 1814; died 1846.

Henry Frederick Campbell, K.C.B., G.C.H.

Born London 1769; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 6 April 1796; brevet Colonel 25 September 1803; commanded 2nd Guards brigade 1808; commanded Guards brigade in Peninsula April to July 1809; severely wounded at Talavera; Major-General 25 July 1810; and again in Peninsula June 1811 to June 1812; commanded 1st Division July to October 1812; 3rd Major 21 October 1813; 2nd Major 28 April 1814; Lieutenant-General 4 June 1814; died 1856.

Frederick Charles White

Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 7 September 1796; commanded 2/1st Foot Guards 1805; Major-General 25 July 1810; Major-General on staff in Ireland 1813 to 1814; 3rd Major 28 April 1814; Lieutenant-General 12 August 1819.

Sir William Anson, Bart., K.C.B.

Born 1772; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 28 September 1797; brevet Colonel 30 October 1805; served in Peninsula October 1808 to January 1809; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards in Walcheren campaign; Major-General 4 June 1811; temporarily commanded 4th Division April to July 1812; commanded brigade 4th Division July 1812; and 4th Division again July to October 1812; and brigade again October 1812 to April 1814; Lieutenant-General 12 August 1819; died 1847.

C. Robert Cheney

Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 25 October 1797; brevet Colonel 1 January 1805; served in Peninsula with 1/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; Major-General 25 July 1810; Major-General on staff in Hull 1813 to 1814; died 1820.

George Cooke, K.C.B.

Born Middlesex 1766; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 4 June 1798; brevet Colonel 25 April 1808; served in Peninsula with 3/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; commanded brigade in Peninsula May to June 1811; Major-General 4 June 1811; officer commanding Cadiz July 1811 to July 1813; commanded 3/1st Foot Guards in Walcheren campaign; commanded Guards Division at Waterloo, where he lost an arm; died 1837.

Francis Gerard Lake

Born London 1772, son of General Gerard Lake; Captain& Lieutenant-Colonel 22 August 1798; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards 1805; exchanged to 60th Foot 10 May 1808.

William Wheatley

Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 26 November 1799; commanded 2/1st Foot Guards in 1807; commanded 3/1st Foot Guards in Peninsula October 1808 to January 1809; brevet Colonel 25 October 1809; commanded 2/1st Foot Guards in Walcheren 1809; commanded 3/1st Foot Guards in Peninsula March to August 1810; commanded a brigade August 1810 to April 1811; commanded a brigade in 1st Division May to September 1812; died of typhus at Escorial 1 September 1812.

Hon. Philip James Cocks

Born London 1774; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 9 May 1800; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards in Peninsula October 1808 to January 1809; and also in Walcheren 1809; retired 23 November 1809; died 1857.

Matthew Chitty Darby-Griffiths

Born Hampshire 1771; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 3 July 1801; served in Peninsula with 1/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; brevet Colonel 25 July 1810; again in Peninsula with 3/1st Foot Guards April to July 1811; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards in Peninsula September 1812 to June 1813; Major-General 4 June 1813; died 1821.

John Lambert, G.C.B.

Born 1772; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 14 May 1801; served in Peninsula with 1/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; brevet Colonel 25 July 1810; commanded 3/1st Foot Guards in Peninsula July to October 1811; commanded a brigade in east Spain October 1811 to April 1812; commanded a brigade in Cadiz May to November 1812; Major-General 4 June 1813; commanded a brigade in 6th Division June 1813 to April 1814;  commanded brigade at New Orleans 1815; commanded brigade (and 6th Division in absence of Cole) at Waterloo; died 1847.

John Francis Kelly

Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 21 August 1801; served in Peninsula with 3/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; also at Walcheren; brevet Colonel 25 July 1810; Major-General 4 June 1813; retired April 1814.

John, Lord Proby

Born Lincolnshire 1780; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 25 May 1803; 2nd Earl of Carysfort in 1804; Assistant Quarter-Master General in Peninsula October 1808 to January 1809; served in Peninsula with 3/1st Foot Guards August to September 1811; commanded a brigade September 1811 to December 1812; served with 1/1st Foot Guards December 1812 to August 1813; brevet Colonel 1 January 1812; Major-General 4 June 1814; commanded 2/1st Foot Guards in Holland 1814; died 1855.

Hon. Thomas Edward Capel

Born Hertfordshire 1770; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 25 June 1803; served in Peninsula with 3/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; and again July to September 1811; Assistant Adjutant-General September 1811 to June 1813; brevet Colonel 1 January 1812; commander at Cadiz July 1813 to April 1814; Major-General 4 June 1814.

Sir Peregrine Maitland, K.C.B.

Born Hampshire 1777; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 25 June 1803; served in Peninsula with 3/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; and again with 2/1st Foot Guards July 1811 to February 1813; brevet Colonel 1 January 1812; commanded Guards Brigade 1st Division July 1813 to April 1814; Major-General 4 June 1814; commanded 1st Guards Brigade at Quatre Bras and Waterloo; died 1854.

Andrew Gammell

Born Greenock 1764; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 20 August 1803; Major-General June 1808; Lieutenant-General 4 June 1813; a friend of the Duke of York, served primarily in staff positions; died 1815.

Hon. John de Courcy

Born Ireland c.1765; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 3 December 1803; brevet Major 1 January 1805; served in Peninsula with 3/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; and again October 1811 to June 1813; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 1 January 1812; died 4 June 1813.

Frederick, Lord Bentinck

Born Nottingham 1781; attached to Austrian Army at Marengo 1800; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 31 January 1805; served in Peninsula with 1/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; and again July 1812 to April 1813; Deputy Adjutant-General in Peninsula April 1813 to April 1814; brevet Colonel 4 June 1814; Lieutenant-Colonel 25 July 1814; Major-General 12 August 1819; died 1820.

Hon. Arthur Percy Upton, C.B.

Born Ireland 1777; Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 14 May 1807; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 21 May 1807; Assistant Quarter-Master General in Peninsula 1812 to 1813; brevet Colonel 4 June 1814; died 1855.

Sir Henry Askew, C.B.

Born Northumberland 1775; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 27 August 1807; served in Peninsula with 1/1st Foot Guards September 1812 to April 1814; commanded 1/1st Foot Guards at Nive; brevet Colonel 4 June 1814; 2nd Major 25 July 1814; wounded commanding 2/1st Foot Guards at Quatre Bras; Major-General 19 July 1821; died 1847.

Hon. William Stuart, C.B.

 Born Scotland 1778; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 1 October 1807; served in the Peninsula with 1/1st Foot Guards September to November 1812; and with 3/1st Foot Guards November 1812 to July 1813, and as battalion commander July 1813 to April 1814; brevet Colonel 4 June 1814; 3rd Major 25 July 1814; wounded commanding 3/1st Foot Guards at Quatre Bras; Major-General 19 July 1821; died 1837.

Hon. James Macdonald

Born Ireland 1783; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 11 February 1808; served in Peninsula with 1/1st Foot Guards September 1812 to January 1814; brevet Colonel 4 June 1814; killed in action at Bergen-Op-Zoom 8 March 1814.

Edward Amherst Saunders Sebright

Born Hertfordshire 1771; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 10 May 1808; commanded 2/1st Foot Guards in Peninsula March 1810 to April 1811; severely wounded at Barrosa; and again with 1/1st Foot Guards September to November 1812; retired 20 December 1812; died 1842.

Hon. Sambrooke Anson

Born Staffordshire 1779; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 15 September 1809; served in Peninsula with 2/1st Foot Guards March 1810 to May 1811; commanded 2/1st Foot Guards after Barrosa; and again in Peninsula with 3/1st Foot Guards March 1812 to April 1813; retired 7 April 1813.

Edward Stables

Born Hertfordshire 1782; Served in Peninsula with 1/1st Foot Guards October 1808 to January 1809; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 4 June 1812; again in Peninsula February to December 1813; and with 1/1st Fooot Guards January to April 1814; commanded 3/1st Foot Guards at Waterloo in absence of Stuart; killed at Waterloo.

Francis d’Oyly, K.C.B.

Born London 1776, nephew of General Francis d’Oyly (see above); ADC to Disney in Peninsula November 1808 to January 1809; ADC to Dilkes August to November 1810; ADC to Disney May to June 1811; brevet Major 4 June 1811; Assistant Adjutant-General December 1811 to April 1814; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 23 September 1812; commanded 2/1st Foot Guards at Waterloo in absence of Askew; killed at Waterloo.

Lord Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, G.C.B.

Born Gloucester 1782; ADC to Wellesley August to October 1808; and again April 1809 to April 1810; Military Secretary to Wellington May 1810 to April 1814; Brevet Colonel in 43rd Foot 27 April 1812; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel in 1st Foot Guards 25 July 1814; Military Secretary to Wellington in Waterloo campaign; resigned 1st Foot Guards May 1825 as Major-General; became Lord Raglan, commander-in-chief of British forces in Crimean War; died in Crimea 1855.

Hon. James Hamilton Stanhope

Born Kent 1788; ADC to Moore in Peninsula August 1808 to January 1809; ADC to Graham March 1810 to August 1813; brevet Major 21 June 1813; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 17 March 1813; Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master General and Assistant Quarter-Master General in Peninsula 1813 to 1814; severely wounded at San Sebastian; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel 25 July 1814; exchanged to 29th Foot 1822; died 1825.

Sources:

War Office. Army Lists 1796 to 1815. London: various years.

Hamilton, Lt. Gen. Sir F.W. The Origin and History of the First or Grenadier Guards. 3 volumes; London: John Murray, 1874.

McKenna, Michael G. The British Army – And Its Regiments and Battalions. West Chester, Ohio: The Nafziger Collection. 2004.

Fletcher, Ian. Wellington’s Regiments. Staplehurst: Spellmount, 1994.

Park, S.J. and Nafziger, G.F. The British Miltary – Its System and Organization 1803-1815. Cambridge, Ontario: Rafm Co. Inc. 1983.

Philippart, John. The Royal Military Calendar, or Army Service and Commission Book. London: A.J. Valpy, 1820.

Hall, John A. A History of the Peninsular War: Volume VIII – The Biographical Dictionary of British Officers Killed and Wounded 1808-1814.  London: Greenhill Books, 1998.

London Gazette Website. March 2009.

The Napoleon Series – Peninsula Roll Call. March 2009.

Wikipedia. April 2009. Various pages.

Placed on the Napoleon Series: August 2009

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