Charles Henry Spencer-Churchill

Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Henry Spencer-Churchill (27 May 1828 – 3 April 1877) was a British army officer who fought in the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny.

Charles Henry Spencer-Churchill
Born(1828-05-28)May 28, 1828
DiedApril 3, 1877(1877-04-03) (aged 48)
Menton, France
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankLieutenant Colonel
Commands heldRifle Brigade
60th Regiment of Foot
68th Regiment of Foot
Battles/warsCrimean War
Indian Mutiny

Life and career edit

He was the eldest son of Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill, a veteran of the Peninsular War, and he was educated at Eton College. On 10 October 1845, he purchased a second lieutenant's commission in the Rifle Brigade.[1] He served with the brigade during the Seventh Xhosa War.[2]

After the outbreak of the Crimean War, Spencer-Churchill purchased a captaincy on 4 August 1854.[3] He was commended for gallantry by Lord Raglan during the war,[2] breveted major on 2 November 1855, and received the Order of the Medjidie, 5th class.[4]

On 17 June 1857, Spencer-Churchill exchanged into the 60th Regiment of Foot[5] and went out to India, where he took part in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny and was present at the capture of Delhi.[2]

In 1862, Spencer-Churchill married Rosalie Lowther, daughter of the Reverend Gorges Paulin Lowther.[2] He served with his regiment in Canada and was breveted lieutenant-colonel in the 60th Foot on 5 September 1865,[6] but went on temporary half-pay on 11 December 1866.[7] His health had been permanently impaired by exposure during the Crimean War.[2]

On 13 January 1869, he exchanged from half-pay into the 68th Regiment of Foot, and he retired the same day.[8] He died of tuberculosis near Menton on 3 April 1877.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "No. 20516". The London Gazette. 10 October 1845. p. 3054.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Burke, Edmund (1878). "Obituary". The Annual Register. v. 119 (1877): 142.
  3. ^ "No. 21578". The London Gazette. 4 August 1854. p. 2392.
  4. ^ "No. 22107". The London Gazette. 2 March 1858. p. 1260.
  5. ^ "No. 22011". The London Gazette. 16 June 1857. p. 2089.
  6. ^ "No. 23016". The London Gazette. 22 September 1865. p. 4542.
  7. ^ "No. 23196". The London Gazette. 11 December 1866. p. 6886.
  8. ^ "No. 23458". The London Gazette. 12 January 1869. p. 165.

External links edit