Thomas William Brotherton
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas William Brotherton (1785–1868), was a general
.
Brotherton entered the 2nd or Coldstream Guards
as ensign in 1800, was promoted lieutenant and captain in 1801, and transferred to the 3rd or Scots Fusilier Guards in 1803. With the guards he served under Abercromby in Egypt
in 1801, and in Hanover
under Lord Cathcart in 1805. On 4 June 1807 he exchanged into the 14th Light Dragoons. With it he served almost continuously in the Peninsula from 1808 to 1814. He was in Sir John Moore
's retreat to Corunna
; he was present at Talavera
, at the actions on the Coa
, at Busaco, Fuentes de Oñoro
, Salamanca
, where he was wounded, Vittoria
, the Pyrenees
, the Nivelle
, and the Nive
, where he was severely wounded and taken prisoner.
Wellington
speaks of Brotherton's employment in the Estrella (Despatches, iv. 614), of his valuable reports (v. 79), his conduct at the Coa (v. 293), and the duke managed his exchange after the battle of the Nive
(vii. 237). He was made major by brevet on Wellington's special recommendation on 28 Nov. 1811, promoted major in his regiment 26 May 1812, lieutenant-colonel by brevet and C.B. in 1814. In 1817 he became lieutenant-colonel of the 16th lancers, and held his command for fourteen years.
He was married in 1819 to Louisa Anne Straton (1802-1847), the daughter of General John Warde Straton. In 1830 he was made aide-de-camp to the king and colonel, in 1841 major-general, in 1844 inspector-general of cavalry, in 1849 colonel of the 15th hussars, in 1850 lieutenant-general, and in 1855 K.C.B. In 1859 he became colonel of the 1st dragoon guards, in 1860 a general, and in 1861 G.C.B.
In 1865, at the age of eighty, he was married to his second wife, Thomasina, the daughter of the Rev. Walter Hare. He died on 20 Jan. 1868, at the age of eighty-three, at his son's house near Esher
, now known as Upper Court. He is buried in the churchyard of St. Andrew's Church, Cobham
.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
.
Brotherton entered the 2nd or Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
as ensign in 1800, was promoted lieutenant and captain in 1801, and transferred to the 3rd or Scots Fusilier Guards in 1803. With the guards he served under Abercromby in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 1801, and in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
under Lord Cathcart in 1805. On 4 June 1807 he exchanged into the 14th Light Dragoons. With it he served almost continuously in the Peninsula from 1808 to 1814. He was in Sir John Moore
Sir John Moore
Sir John Moore may refer to:*Sir John Moore, 1st Baronet, British admiral *John Moore , British general...
's retreat to Corunna
A Coruña
A Coruña or La Coruña is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country...
; he was present at Talavera
Talavera
Talavera may refer to the following:Places* Talavera de la Reina, a city in Toledo province, Spain, where two battles took place:** Battle of Talavera, during the Peninsular War** Battle of Talavera de la Reina , during the Spanish Civil War...
, at the actions on the Coa
Coa
Coa can refer to:*Coa, Rural community in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.*Coa de jima, a specialized tool for harvesting agave cactus.*Côa river, Portugal, a major tributary of the Douro....
, at Busaco, Fuentes de Oñoro
Fuentes de Oñoro
Fuentes de Oñoro is a village and municipality in the province of Salamanca, western Spain, part of the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. It is located 124 kilometres from the provincial capital city of Salamanca and has a population of 1436 people....
, Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, where he was wounded, Vittoria
Vittoria
Vittoria may refer to:* Vittoria Coffee, Australia's largest coffee company, founded in 1947* Vittoria, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada* Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain* Vitória, Brazil* Battle of Vitoria, an 1813 battle in Spain during the Napoleonic Wars...
, the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, the Nivelle
Nivelle
-References:*...
, and the Nive
Nive
The Nive is a French river that flows through the French Basque Country. It is a left tributary of the river Adour. The river's source in the Pyrenees in Lower Navarre...
, where he was severely wounded and taken prisoner.
Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
speaks of Brotherton's employment in the Estrella (Despatches, iv. 614), of his valuable reports (v. 79), his conduct at the Coa (v. 293), and the duke managed his exchange after the battle of the Nive
Battle of the Nive
The Battles of the Nive were fought towards the end of the Peninsular War. Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish army defeated Marshal Nicolas Soult's French army in a series of battles near the city of Bayonne.Unusually, for most of the battle, Wellington...
(vii. 237). He was made major by brevet on Wellington's special recommendation on 28 Nov. 1811, promoted major in his regiment 26 May 1812, lieutenant-colonel by brevet and C.B. in 1814. In 1817 he became lieutenant-colonel of the 16th lancers, and held his command for fourteen years.
He was married in 1819 to Louisa Anne Straton (1802-1847), the daughter of General John Warde Straton. In 1830 he was made aide-de-camp to the king and colonel, in 1841 major-general, in 1844 inspector-general of cavalry, in 1849 colonel of the 15th hussars, in 1850 lieutenant-general, and in 1855 K.C.B. In 1859 he became colonel of the 1st dragoon guards, in 1860 a general, and in 1861 G.C.B.
In 1865, at the age of eighty, he was married to his second wife, Thomasina, the daughter of the Rev. Walter Hare. He died on 20 Jan. 1868, at the age of eighty-three, at his son's house near Esher
Esher
Esher is a town in the Surrey borough of Elmbridge in South East England near the River Mole. It is a very prosperous part of the Greater London Urban Area, largely suburban in character, and is situated 14.1 miles south west of Charing Cross....
, now known as Upper Court. He is buried in the churchyard of St. Andrew's Church, Cobham
Cobham, Surrey
Cobham is a town in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England, about south-west of central London and north of Leatherhead. Elmbridge has been acclaimed by the Daily Mail as the best place to live in the UK, and Cobham is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt...
.