Sir Harry Burrard, 1st Baronet, of Lymington

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Sir Harry Burrard, 1st Baronet (1 June 175517 October 1813) was a British General during the Peninsular War.

An experienced veteran of many British campaigns in America, Flanders and Denmark, Sir Harry Burrard had long since passed his prime when he took over the British army in Portugal from Sir Arthur Wellesley. He was nicknamed Betty by his troops. Wellesley was one of the most junior Lieutenant-Generals in the British army, so for reasons of protocol, a more senior officer had to be placed above him. In case Burrard should die, Dalrymple was placed above him!

Burrard stopped Wellesley's pursuit of General Jean-Andoche Junot after Vimiero. It was his only real order during his one day in command of the army. He was replaced the next day by an equally cautious Sir Hew Dalrymple who began negotiations with Junot which led to the infamous Convention of Cintra. Recalled to London for an inquiry into the treaty, Burrard was placed in retirement from active duty.

During his earlier career, Burrard had fought in the American Revolution. He was captured during a raid on the Bruges canal in 1798. He led the 2nd Brigade during the 1799 Anglo-Russian campaign in Holland, fighting at the battles of Bergen, Egmont and Castricum. In 1807, he commanded the 1st Division at the siege of Copenhagen.

His cousin, also named Sir Harry Burrard (1765-1840), was the one to have the Burrard Inlet named after him by his friend Captain George Vancouver in June 1792. Tragically, one of Burrard's sons was killed at the Battle of Corunna and another died in the breach at the Siege of San Sebastian.

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Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Edward Morant
Henry Goodricke
Member of Parliament for Lymington
with Thomas Dummer 1780–1781
Edward Gibbon 1781–1784
Robert Colt 1784–1788

1780–1788
Succeeded by
Robert Colt
George Rose
Preceded by
Robert Colt
George Rose
Member of Parliament for Lymington
with Sir Harry Burrard-Neale, Bt

1790–1791
Succeeded by
Sir Harry Burrard-Neale, Bt
Nathaniel Brassey Halhead
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Sir Harry Burrard-Neale, Bt
William Manning
Member of Parliament for Lymington
with William Manning

1802–1802
Succeeded by
William Manning
John Kingston
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New title Baronet
(of Lymington)
1807–1813
Succeeded by
Charles Burrard
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