Charles van Straubenzee

Sir Charles van Straubenzee
Born 17 February 1812
Malta
Died 10 August 1892
Bath, Somerset
Buried at Bath, Somerset
Allegiance United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank General
Commands held 3rd Bn the Buffs
1st Brigade of the Light Division
Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong
Bombay Army
Malta
Battles/wars Gwalior Campaign
Crimean War
Second Opium War
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

General Sir Charles Thomas van Straubenzee GCB (17 February 1812 – 10 August 1892) was Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong and Governor of Malta.

Military career

He was the second son of Major Thomas Van Straubenzee R.A., of Spennithorne, Yorkshire, by his wife Maria, youngest daughter of Major Henry Bowen. A member of an old and distinguished military family, van Straubenzee was commissioned into the Ceylon Rifles in 1828.[1] He transferred to the 39th Regiment of Foot in 1833 and, during the Gwalior Campaign, he took part in the Battle of Maharajpore in 1843: he took temporary command of his Regiment when the Commanding Officer was wounded and brought the Regiment out of action.[1]

In 1846 he transferred to 3rd battalion the Buffs of which he became Commanding Officer in 1851[1] and fought in the Crimean War commanding the 1st Brigade of the Light Division and taking part in both assaults on the Redan during the Siege of Sevastopol.[1] In 1857 he became Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong and led an attack on Canton during the Second Opium War.[1] In 1862 he was made General Officer Commanding a Division of the Bombay Army at Ahmedabad and subsequent took overall command of the Bombay Army.[1] He became Governor of Malta in 1872.[1]He is buried at Bathwick cemetery near Bath.[1]

Family

He married Charlotte Louisa Richardson in 1841, daughter of General John Luther Richardson.[2]

See also

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Thomas Ashburnham
Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong
1858–1859
Succeeded by
Sir James Grant
Political offices
Preceded by
Sir Patrick Grant
Governor of Malta
1872–1878
Succeeded by
Sir Arthur Borton