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William Fawcett (British Army officer)

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Sir William Fawcett
General Sir William Fawcett
Born1727
Died1804
Allegiance Kingdom of Great Britain
Service / branch British Army
RankGeneral
Battles / warsSeven Years' War
American Revolutionary War
AwardsKnight Companion of the Order of the Bath

General Sir William Fawcett KB (1727–1804) was an Adjutant-General to the Forces.

Military career

Educated at Bury Grammar School in Lancashire,[1] William Fawcett was commissioned into the 33rd Foot in 1748.[2]

In 1758 he was despatched to the War in Germany where he became an Aide-de-Camp to the Marquess of Granby.[2] Then in 1775 he was sent to Hannover, Hesse-Cassel, Hesse-Hanau and Hanover to recruit troops for the War in America.[2] The majority of the German troops who fought on the British side in the conflict were known as the "Hessians" in reference to the place of origin.[3]

He was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1781: in this role he was involved in introducing Regulations for the Heavy Infantry and then for the Cavalry.[2]

In retirement he served as Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1796[2] until 1804.[4]

He lived at 31 Great George Street in London.[5]

Family

In 1749 he married Susannah Brook and together they had eight children. Following her death on 7 April 1783 he married Charlotte Stinton (d. 1805): they had no children.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Fallows, I.B. "Bury Grammar School A History c.1570 to 1976", The Estate Governors of Bury Grammar School, Bury, 2001
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sir William Fawcett at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  3. ^ Atwood, Rodney (1980). The Hessians: Mercenaries from Hessen-Kassel in the American Revolution. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
  4. ^ The Halifax lad who was Byron's hero! Halifax Courier, 25 March 2009
  5. ^ Survey of London, Volume 10 British History on Line
Military offices
Preceded by Governor of Gravesend and Tilbury
1776–1796 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Colonel of the 15th (the Yorkshire East Riding) Regiment of Foot
1778–1792 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Adjutant General
1781–1799 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Colonel of the 3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards
1792–1804 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor, Royal Hospital Chelsea
1796–1804 		Succeeded by
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