| Field Marshal Sir Henry Norman GCB, GCMG, CIE |
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Sir Henry Norman circa. 1895 |
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| Born | 2 December 1826 |
| Died | 26 October 1904 (aged 77) London, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1844-1904 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Battles/wars | Second Anglo-Sikh War Indian Mutiny |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire |
| Other work | Governor of Jamaica Governor of Queensland Governor of Royal Hospital Chelsea |
Field Marshal Sir Henry Wylie Norman GCB, GCMG, CIE (2 December 1826 – 26 October 1904), Field Marshal and colonial Governor.
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He was born 2 December 1826, only son of James Norman, merchant, and his wife Charlotte, née Wylie.
In 1840 Norman's father, who had been for many years a merchant in Cuba, became a partner in a mercantile house in Calcutta, where he was joined by his wife and son in 1842 whereupon Henry entered the Indian army at the age of seventeen.
In 1844 Henry obtained a cadetship.[1] He went through the Second Sikh War and, having attracted the favourable notice of Sir Colin Campbell, was selected by him to accompany an expedition against the Kohat Pass Afridis in 1850 as officiating brigade-major.[1]
The subaltern of twenty-four was given a substantive appointment in this capacity for a splendid deed of gallantry, which is recorded by Sir Charles Napier in the following terms:
"In the pass of Kohat a sepoy picket, descending a precipitous mountain under fire and the rolling of large stones, had some men killed and wounded. Four of the latter, dreadfully hurt, crept under some rocks for shelter. They were not missed until the picket reached the bottom, but were then discovered by our glasses, high up and helpless. Fortunately the enemy did not see them, and some sepoys volunteered a rescue, headed by Norman of the 31st Native Infantry and Ensign Murray of the 70th Native Infantry. These brave men would that the names of all were known to me for record ascended the rocks in defiance of the enemy, and brought the wounded men down."
Norman served in numerous frontier expeditions between 1850 and 1854, and in the suppression of the Sonthal rebellion of 1855 to 1856.[1] In the Indian Mutiny he was constantly engaged, being present at the siege of Delhi,[1] the relief of Lucknow[1] and a number of other affairs. As adjutant-general of the Delhi Field Force, Wylie was one of the leading spirits of the siege, and afterwards became its chief chronicler. Altogether he was mentioned twenty-five times in dispatches.
He afterwards became assistant military secretary for Indian affairs at the Horse Guards in 1860,[2] military secretary to the government of India in 1862,[2] military member of the viceroy's council in 1870[2] and member of the Council of India in 1878.[2]
At Peshawar in India on 14 April 1853, Henry married Selina Eliza Davidson (d.1862),[2] by whom he had three daughters.
He married a widow Jemima Anne Temple,[2] née Knowles, in September 1864, but she died the year after.
On 1 March 1870 he married Alice Claudine Sandys.[2]
During 1883 Sir Henry succeeded Sir Anthony Musgrave as governor of Jamaica and thus began his colonial career as Governor of Jamaica.[3]
Sir Henry was transferred in 1889 to be Governor of Queensland.[3] He accepted the position on 12 November 1888 when Sir Henry Blake's nomination proved unacceptable and arrived in Brisbane on 1 May 1889.
Declining the post of viceroy of India in September 1893,[3] Norman left Queensland on 14 November 1895 for London where he acted for a year as agent-general for the colony in London.
In 1897 he was chairman of the royal commission of inquiry into the condition of the West Indies.
In April 1901 he was appointed governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in succession to Sir Donald Stewart.[4]
In 1902 he was promoted to Field Marshal.[3]
Sir Henry died at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, on the 26 October 1904.[3] He was buried in Brompton Cemetery[3] with military honours, survived by his third wife, two sons and one daughter.
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by Dominic Jacotin Gamble, acting |
Governor of Jamaica 1883–1889 |
Succeeded by William Clive Justice, acting |
| Preceded by Sir Anthony Musgrave |
Governor of Queensland 1889-1895 |
Succeeded by Lord Lamington |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by Sir Donald Stewart |
Governor, Royal Hospital Chelsea 1901–1904 |
Succeeded by Sir George White |
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