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William Gosset (British Army officer, born 1782)

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Sir William Gosset

Born18 January 1782
St Saviour, Jersey
Died27 March 1848
Charlton, Kent, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1798–1848
RankMajor-General
UnitRoyal Engineers
Battles/wars
AwardsKnight bachelor
Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order
Spouse(s)Gertude Martha Daniell
ChildrenSir Ralph Gosset

Major-General Sir William Gosset KCH CB (18 January 1782 – 27 March 1848) was a British Army officer who served as Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons from 1835 to 1847.[1]

Early life and family

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Gosset was born in Jersey and was of French Huguenot descent. He was the son of Matthieu Gosset of Bagot and his second wife, Marguerite Durell. He had three half-brothers by his father's first marriage, including Matthew Gosset, Viscount of Jersey. His great-uncle was the sculptor Isaac Gosset and his uncle, also named Isaac, was a noted bibliophile.[2]

Career

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Gosset was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1798. During the Napoleonic Wars, he was sent to Holland in the Walcheren Campaign in 1809. Gosset was secretary to William à Court's mission to the Barbary States in 1813.[3]

During the Bombardment of Algiers in August 1816, he served as major commandant of the engineers under Admiral Viscount Exmouth and destroyed an enemy frigate.[3] In honour of his assistance, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Bath (CB) by Queen Victoria in November 1816,[4] and the following year was appointed a Commander of the Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit, by King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies.[5]

He served as Member of Parliament for Truro from 1820 to 1826, secretary to Lord Anglesey as Master-General of the Ordnance from 1827 to 1828, private secretary to Anglesey as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1828 to 1829, Under-Secretary for Ireland from 1831 to 1835 and Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons from 1835 until his death.[3]

He was knighted in 3 May 1831 by the Queen and appointed a Knight Commander in the Royal Guelphic Order that same year.[3]

Personal life

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In 1808, he married Gertrude Martha, daughter of Ralph Allen Daniell of Trelissick, near Truro. He settled in Cornwall, where he and his wife had one son – who also served as Serjeant-at-Arms – and three daughters.[3][6][7]

  • Sir Ralph Gosset KCB (1809–1885), Serjeant-at-Arms from 1875–85
  • Elizabeth Louisa Gosset (1811–1897), married Frederick Willis, Esq.
  • Gertrude Mary Gosset (1814–1879)[8]
  • Jennetta Anne Gosset (1817–1890), married Wilbraham Taylor, son of Edward Taylor, MP

References

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  1. ^ "Death Of Sir W. Gossett, K.C.H.". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 28 March 1848. p. 6.
  2. ^ Agnew, David Carnegie Andrew (1886). "Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 20 - Gosset" . Protestant Exiles from France  – via Wikisource.
  3. ^ a b c d e Fisher, David, ed. (2009). "GOSSET, William (1782–1848), of Round Ward, nr. Truro, Cornw. and 64 Harley Street, Mdx.". The House of Commons 1820–1832. The History of Parliament Trust.
  4. ^ "No. 17195". The London Gazette. 26 November 1816. p. 2253.
  5. ^ "No. 17229". The London Gazette. 11 March 1817. p. 610.
  6. ^ England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538–1975
  7. ^ "Obituary". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 28 November 1885. p. 10.
  8. ^ "Deaths". The Belfast News-Letter. 19 April 1879. p. 1.
Government offices
Preceded by
Henry Seymour
Serjeant-at-Arms
of the House of Commons

1835–1848
Succeeded by