Henry Torrens (British Army officer)

Sir Henry Torrens

Major-General Sir Henry Torrens
Born 1779
Died 1828
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Major-General
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Major-General Sir Henry Torrens KCB (1779– 23 August 1828) was an Adjutant-General to the Forces.

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Early life

Torrens was born in Londenderry, Ireland in 1779. He lost both his parents at an early age, was educated at a military academy in Dublin.[1]

Military career

Henry Torrens was commissioned as an ensign into the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot in 1793 at the age of 14.[2] In 1796 he served under Abercrombie in the West Indies, where he displayed great bravery, was wounded, and was rewarded with a company. He served in Portugal in 1798; in Holland under the Duke of York in 1799; and afterwards in Nova Scotia, Egypt, and India.[1]

In 1799 he went to Den Helder where he was involved in battles at Hoorne and at Egmond aan Zee: at the latter he was wounded by a bullet.[2] In 1805 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After seeing service at Buenos Aries in 1807, he accompanied Sir Arthur Wellesley as military secretary to Portugal in 1808, and was present at the battles of Roliça and Vimiera.[1]

He rose to be appointed Military Secretary in 1809. He attained the rank of major-general in 1814, and was gazetted K.C.B. and then Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1820[2] and the onerous task of revising the army regulations and introducing many improvements was imposed upon him.

Sir Henry died while out riding with his wife and daughters at Welwyn, Hertfordshire, 23 August 1828, aged 48.[1][2]

Family

In 1803 he married Sarah Patton at St. Helena, the daughter of the Governor of St. Helena,[1] and together they went on to have four sons and two daughters.[2]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
James Gordon
Military Secretary
1809–1820
Succeeded by
Sir Herbert Taylor
Preceded by
Sir Harry Calvert
Adjutant General
1820–1828