Edward John Eliot
Encyclopedia
Captain Edward John Eliot (20 September 1782 Shenstone, Staffordshire
– 6 November 1863 Peckham
, Surrey
) was an English soldier.
Eliot was the son of Francis Perceval Eliot
and his wife Anne née Breynton (daughter of Dr John Breynton
). He was born into a military family - the son of a Colonel, the grandson and great grandson of Generals, but he himself never rose above the rank of Captain. His letters and papers form an important record of military life for this period.
He enrolled at the age of 15 into his father's Staffordshire Militia as an Ensign (1797), and a Lieutenant (1799). In 1799, he transferred as Ensign of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot
. His unit sailed from Ireland in May 1800 to the Île-d'Houat
, in Quiberon Bay
, where 40 years earlier the Battle of Quiberon Bay
had been fought. However, bad weather prevented a landing and he went on to Minorca
where stayed until at least October 1801. By October 1802, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and posted to Athenry
in Ireland. He saw several excursions to the Mediterranean and was promoted to Captain, 4th Garrison Battalion.
During 1807, the Peninsula War was beginning and Edward was among the first of the British troops to fight in the Iberian peninsula, alongside his older brother William Granville Eliot, who was in another regiment. Edward now saw major military action over the next 5 years, including the Battle of Vimiero (following which he was promoted to Captain, 27th Inniskillen Regiment of Foot), the Battle of Talavera, Battle of Buçaco
, Defence of the Lines of Torres Vedras
, Battle of Badajoz. During this period, he fought in the elite Lord Hill's Flying Brigade
.
Having fought in many of the major battles of the campaign, he returned home in 1812. Although he tried to rejoin his regiment, he was clearly unwell and in 1814 retired from the Army altogether aged just 32.
On 22 November 1826, he married Margaret James and had 6 children. The couple settled firstly in Greenwich
, then Finsbury
and eventually Peckham
, Surrey
, where he joined HM Customs as a landing waiter - a secure job for an ex-army officer.
The army had initially refused him the usual Peninsula campaign medals. However, following a protracted communication, these were finally awarded in the 1840s, 25 years after his return. Together with letters from the Peninsula War, this communication forms a substantial record of his military career.
He retired in the 1850s, died at Peckham in 1863 and is buried in Nunhead Cemetery
.
, and they had 6 children:
Shenstone, Staffordshire
Shenstone is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, close to Stonnall and between Lichfield and Birmingham. In a recent survey Shenstone was found to be one of the ten worst places in England for finding single women....
– 6 November 1863 Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
) was an English soldier.
Eliot was the son of Francis Perceval Eliot
Francis Perceval Eliot
Francis Perceval Eliot was an English soldier, auditor and man of letters.Eliot was the son of General Granville Elliott and his second wife, Elizabeth Duckett...
and his wife Anne née Breynton (daughter of Dr John Breynton
John Breynton
John Breynton was a renowned minister in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada....
). He was born into a military family - the son of a Colonel, the grandson and great grandson of Generals, but he himself never rose above the rank of Captain. His letters and papers form an important record of military life for this period.
He enrolled at the age of 15 into his father's Staffordshire Militia as an Ensign (1797), and a Lieutenant (1799). In 1799, he transferred as Ensign of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot
62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot
The 62nd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, which was raised as a line regiment in 1756 and saw service through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries...
. His unit sailed from Ireland in May 1800 to the Île-d'Houat
Houat
Houat is a French island off the south coast of Brittany in the department of Morbihan. It is located, along with two other major islands, in the entrance to the Baie de Quiberon. Its "twin sister" island is Hoëdic....
, in Quiberon Bay
Quiberon Bay
The Baie de Quiberon is an area of sheltered water on the south coast of Brittany. The bay is in the Morbihan département.-Geography:The bay is roughly triangular in shape, open to the south with the Gulf of Morbihan to the north-east and the narrow peninsular of Presqu'île de Quiberon providing...
, where 40 years earlier the Battle of Quiberon Bay
Battle of Quiberon Bay
The naval Battle of Quiberon Bay took place on 20 November 1759 during the Seven Years' War in Quiberon Bay, off the coast of France near St. Nazaire...
had been fought. However, bad weather prevented a landing and he went on to Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
where stayed until at least October 1801. By October 1802, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and posted to Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
in Ireland. He saw several excursions to the Mediterranean and was promoted to Captain, 4th Garrison Battalion.
During 1807, the Peninsula War was beginning and Edward was among the first of the British troops to fight in the Iberian peninsula, alongside his older brother William Granville Eliot, who was in another regiment. Edward now saw major military action over the next 5 years, including the Battle of Vimiero (following which he was promoted to Captain, 27th Inniskillen Regiment of Foot), the Battle of Talavera, Battle of Buçaco
Battle of Buçaco
The Battle of Bussaco resulted in the defeat of French forces by Lord Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese Army, in Portugal during the Peninsular War....
, Defence of the Lines of Torres Vedras
Lines of Torres Vedras
The Lines of Torres Vedras were lines of forts built in secrecy to defend Lisbon during the Peninsular War. Named after the nearby town of Torres Vedras, they were ordered by Arthur Wellesley, Viscount Wellington, constructed by Sir Richard Fletcher, 1st Baronet and his Portuguese workers between...
, Battle of Badajoz. During this period, he fought in the elite Lord Hill's Flying Brigade
Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill
General Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill of Almaraz GCB, GCH served in the Napoleonic Wars as a trusted brigade, division and corps commander under the command of the Duke of Wellington. He became Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in 1829.-Early career:Educated at a school in Chester, Hill was...
.
Having fought in many of the major battles of the campaign, he returned home in 1812. Although he tried to rejoin his regiment, he was clearly unwell and in 1814 retired from the Army altogether aged just 32.
On 22 November 1826, he married Margaret James and had 6 children. The couple settled firstly in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, then Finsbury
Finsbury
Finsbury is a district of central London, England. It lies immediately north of the City of London and Clerkenwell, west of Shoreditch, and south of Islington and City Road. It is in the south of the London Borough of Islington. The Finsbury Estate is in the western part of the district...
and eventually Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, where he joined HM Customs as a landing waiter - a secure job for an ex-army officer.
The army had initially refused him the usual Peninsula campaign medals. However, following a protracted communication, these were finally awarded in the 1840s, 25 years after his return. Together with letters from the Peninsula War, this communication forms a substantial record of his military career.
He retired in the 1850s, died at Peckham in 1863 and is buried in Nunhead Cemetery
Nunhead Cemetery
Nunhead Cemetery is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries in London, England. It is perhaps the least famous and celebrated of them.. The cemetery is located in the Nunhead area of southern London and was originally known as All Saints' Cemetery. Nunhead Cemetery was consecrated in 1840 and...
.
Family
On 22 November 1826, at All Saints' Church, Huntingdon, he married Margaret James (1802–1881), the daughter of George James (1760–1811), the captain, later colonel, of the Northumberland RegimentRoyal Northumberland Fusiliers
The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Originally raised in 1674, the regiment was amalgamated with three other fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.-Origins:...
, and they had 6 children:
- Edward James Eliot (1828–1905), who married Caroline Louisa Matilda Godfrey (1832–1897)
- Francis George (Frank) Eliot (1831–1908), who married Elizabeth Anne Grey (1844–1889)
- Henry Augustus Eliot (1833–1886), who married Mary Louisa Sarah Nash (1840–1928)
- Margaret Frances Eliot (1837–1916)
- John Percival Eliot (1840–1841)
- William Frederick Eliot (1843–1932), who married firstly Fanny Clarke (1845–1914), and secondly Edith Fielder (1880–1960)