Charles Macpherson Dobell

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John Singer Sargent: Sir Charles Macpherson Dobell, Oil on canvas, 1919

Sir Charles Macpherson Dobell, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. (June 22, 1869 – October 17, 1954) was a Canadian soldier who was a Major-General with the Royal Welch Fusiliers of the British Army.

Born in Quebec, the son of Richard Reid Dobell, an MP, and a grandson of Senator Sir David Lewis Macpherson, Dobell was educated at the Rev. Canon Von Iffland's Private School, the Quebec High School and Charterhouse School in England. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (college #221) in 1890. He was a Lieutenant in Hazara expedition of 1891 and took part with the International Forces in the occupation of the Island of Crete where he was promoted to Major. He served during the Boer war where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. After serving in Nigeria, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He served in China during the Boxer Rebellion. He was gazetted as Inspector-General of the West African Field Force, with the rank of Brigadier-General.

During World War I, he fought in the Cameroons and was later promoted to Major General. He served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign under Sir Archibald Murray, but they were both replaced in 1917.

In 1916, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was also made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.