George Beckwith (British Army officer)

Sir George Beckwith

Sir George Beckwith
Born 1753
Died 20 March 1823 (aged 69 or 70)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank General
Commands held Ireland
Battles/wars American Revolutionary War
Napoleonic Wars
Awards Knight of the Order of the Bath

General Sir George Beckwith KB (1753 – 20 March 1823) was a British Army officer.

Military career

Beckwith was commissioned into the 37th Regiment of Foot in 1771.[1] He distinguished himself as a regimental officer in the American Revolutionary War, where he was assistant to Major Oliver Delancey responsible for British Intelligence. In July 1782 he replaced Delancey and after the war he worked for Sir Guy Carleton in Canada. His efforts were aimed at stirring up trouble in VT. Fl. Ky. and Tn. At the time Britain thought the weak American government might ask for British help.

He was then appointed Governor of Bermuda in 1797, Governor of Saint Vincent in 1806 and Governor of Barbados in 1810.[1]

He was made a K.B. for his Capture of Martinique in 1809 and also led a successful expedition against Guadeloupe, the last French possession in the area, in 1810.[1] He attained the full rank of General in 1814.[1] Sir George Beckwith was Commander-in-Chief, Ireland from 1816 to 1820.[1] He died in London on 20 March 1823.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Spain, J. (2004). Beckwith, Sir George (1752/3–1823). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

Government offices
Preceded by
Henry Tucker
Governor of Bermuda,
1798–1803
Succeeded by
Henry Tucker
Preceded by
Henry William Bentinck
Governor of Saint Vincent,
1806–1808
Succeeded by
Charles Brisbane
Preceded by
John Spooner acting
Governor of Barbados,
1810-1815
Succeeded by
James Leith
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir George Hewett
Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
1816-1820
Succeeded by
Sir David Baird
Preceded by
Albemarle Bertie
Colonel of the 89th Regiment of Foot
?
Succeeded by
?