Samuel Benjamin Auchmuty

General Sir Samuel Benjamin Auchmuty GCB (28 April 1780 – 30 April 1868)[2] was an Anglo-Irish soldier.

Sir Samuel Auchmuty
Born28 April 1780
Newry, County Down, Ireland[1]
Died30 April 1868
Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
RankGeneral
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Military career

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He was the second son of Col. Samuel Auchmuty and his wife, Elizabeth Domvile Savage, only daughter of Francis Savage.[3] Auchmuty entered the British Army as ensign in 1797 and served first in the French Revolutionary Wars and subsequently in the Napoleonic Wars.[3] He was lieutenant of the 68th Regiment of Foot in 1800 and was promoted to captain in 1805.[4] A year later Auchmuty was transferred to the 70th Regiment of Foot and in 1807 to the 7th Regiment of Foot.[4] In 1810, he was appointed deputy assistant adjutant-general and attached to the 6th Infantry Division.[4] He became Aide-de-camp to Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole in July 1813 and was promoted to major in October of the same year.[4] Auchmuty fought in the Battle of Orthez in February 1814 and in the Battle of Toulouse in April, for which he received the Army Gold Medal and was made a brevet lieutenant-colonel.[4]

Auchmuty became colonel in 1831 and major-general 1841.[5] He was transferred to the general staff in India in 1848,[6] became colonel of the 65th Regiment of Foot in February 1851[7] was promoted to lieutenant-general in November.[8] In 1855, Auchmuty was appointed colonel of his old regiment, the 7th foot,[9] and following the death of Sir Robert John Harvey was promoted finally to general in 1860.[10] He was awarded a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1857[11] and a Knight Grand Cross in 1861.[12]

In 1817, he married Mary Anne Buchanan.[2] Auchmuty died, aged 88 at Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.[2]

Arms

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Coat of arms of Samuel Benjamin Auchmuty
 
Notes
Granted by John Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, 20 February 1863.[13]
Crest
On a wreath of the colours an arm embowed in armour Proper holding the lower part of a broken spear headways Azure.
Escutcheon
Argent the upper part of a broken spear bendways between two mullets of six points Azure pierced of the field.
Motto
Dum Spiro Spero

References

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  1. ^ Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911
  2. ^ a b c Sylvanus, Urban (1868). The Gentleman's Magazine. Vol. part I. London: Bradbury, Evans & Co. pp. 788–789.
  3. ^ a b Dod, Robert P. (1860). The Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of Great Britain and Ireland. London: Whitaker and Co. p. 97.
  4. ^ a b c d e John Philippart, ed. (1820). The Royal Military Calendar or Army Service and Commission Book. Vol. V (3rd ed.). London: A. J. Valpy. pp. 25–26.
  5. ^ "No. 20044". The London Gazette. 24 November 1841. p. 3099.
  6. ^ Hart, H. G. (1855). John Bernhard Burke (ed.). The New Army List and Militia List. London: John Murray. p. 117.
  7. ^ "No. 21179". The London Gazette. 7 February 1851. p. 299.
  8. ^ "No. 21262". The London Gazette. 11 November 1851. p. 2965.
  9. ^ "No. 21676". The London Gazette. 13 March 1855. p. 1054.
  10. ^ "No. 22400". The London Gazette. 3 July 1860. p. 2497.
  11. ^ "No. 21955". The London Gazette. 2 January 1857. p. 12.
  12. ^ "No. 22524". The London Gazette. 28 June 1861. p. 2689.
  13. ^ "Grants and Confirmations of Arms Vol. G". National Library of Ireland. 1863. p. 32. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
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Military offices
Preceded by Colonel of the 65th (2nd Yorkshire, North Riding) Regiment of Foot
1851 – 1855
Succeeded by
Henry Balneavis
Preceded by Colonel of the 7th (Royal Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot
1855 – 1868
Succeeded by