British Army Lieutenant General. He is remembered for his conquest of Manila, Philippines from the Spanish in 1762. The son of a young customs officer who died a year after his birth, he received his education at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. In 1744, during the War of Austrian succession, he became an ensign in Lord Henry Beauclerk's regiment, an adjutant in the 1st Foot Guards in 1746, and then a lieutenant and captain in 1749. During the Seven Years' War with France, he commanded the 79th Regiment of Foot, raised by himself, at the Siege of Madras in 1758 to 1759. A colonel in 1762, he had his greatest triumph when he led together with Vice-Admiral Samuel Cornish an expedition against Manila, Philippines, capturing the city on October 6, 1762. The British occupation lasted until 1764, after which it was returned to Spain. He then returned to England and became colonel of the 16th Regiment of Foot. In December 1765 he became Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath. In 1774 he was part of a key meeting that agreed on an early set of cricket rules, including the leg before wicket rule. A lieutenant-general in 1777, he became lieutenant-governor of Menorca, one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea, until it was lost to the French and Spanish at the Battle of Menorca in 1782. The following year, he was reprimanded by a court martial after accusing Menorca Governor Lieutenant General James Murray of misconduct, which were unsubstantiated. He died around the age of 66.
British Army Lieutenant General. He is remembered for his conquest of Manila, Philippines from the Spanish in 1762. The son of a young customs officer who died a year after his birth, he received his education at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. In 1744, during the War of Austrian succession, he became an ensign in Lord Henry Beauclerk's regiment, an adjutant in the 1st Foot Guards in 1746, and then a lieutenant and captain in 1749. During the Seven Years' War with France, he commanded the 79th Regiment of Foot, raised by himself, at the Siege of Madras in 1758 to 1759. A colonel in 1762, he had his greatest triumph when he led together with Vice-Admiral Samuel Cornish an expedition against Manila, Philippines, capturing the city on October 6, 1762. The British occupation lasted until 1764, after which it was returned to Spain. He then returned to England and became colonel of the 16th Regiment of Foot. In December 1765 he became Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath. In 1774 he was part of a key meeting that agreed on an early set of cricket rules, including the leg before wicket rule. A lieutenant-general in 1777, he became lieutenant-governor of Menorca, one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea, until it was lost to the French and Spanish at the Battle of Menorca in 1782. The following year, he was reprimanded by a court martial after accusing Menorca Governor Lieutenant General James Murray of misconduct, which were unsubstantiated. He died around the age of 66.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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