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William Smelt (British Army officer)

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William Smelt
18th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
In office
28 January 1847 – 1852
Preceded byColin Campbell
Succeeded byP. Bainbrigge
Personal details
BornGedling, Nottinghamshire
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army
RankLieutenant General
CommandsGeneral Officer Commanding, Ceylon

Lieutenant-General William Smelt, CB (c. 1788 – 10 January 1858)[1][2] was the 18th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. He was a member of the Smelt family.

He joined the British Army as a Cornet in 1798.[3] In 1814, as a Major of the 103rd Foot, he participated in the battles of Plattsburg, Oswego and Lundy's Lane in North America and was badly wounded at the Siege of Fort Erie.[4]

He was awarded CB in 1826, when a Lieutenant-Colonel of the 41st Foot.[5] He was appointed General Officer Commanding, Ceylon on 28 January 1847 and succeeded by P. Bainbrigge in 1852. He was awarded the Army of India Medal.

In 1850 he was given the colonelcy of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot[6] but transferred in 1851 to the 37th Foot, a position he held until his death. He was promoted Lieutenant-General on 11 November 1851.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Evening Mail, 15 January 1858 – "The Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 37th (the North Hampshire) Regiment is vacant by the death of Lieutenaut- General William Smelt, C.B., whose death has been announced as having taken place at Bath Sunday last. The gallant officer was in his 70th year"
  2. ^ The United Service Magazine. H. Colburn. 1858. p. 474.
  3. ^ London Gazette, March 20, 1798
  4. ^ "William Drummond and the Battle of Fort Erie". Scholars Commons. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  5. ^ The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and its dependencies. Volume 23. p. 302.
  6. ^ "No. 21082". The London Gazette. 2 April 1850. p. 959.
  7. ^ "No. 21262". The London Gazette. 11 November 1850. p. 2965.
Military offices
Preceded by General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
1847–1852
Succeeded by
Preceded by 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot
1851–1858
Succeeded by
John Fraser
Preceded by 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot
1850–1851
Succeeded by
Thomas Lightfoot