General Sir Charles Thomas van Straubenzee GCB (17 February 1812 – 10 August 1892), was a British Army officer. He served as Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong, and Governor of Malta.
General Sir Charles van Straubenzee | |
|---|---|
_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg) Van Straubenzee as brigadier-general in 1860 | |
| Born | 17 February 1812 Fort Ricasoli, Malta |
| Died | 10 August 1892 (aged 80) Bath, Somerset, England |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1828–1881 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | 3rd Bn the Buffs 1st Brigade of the Light Division Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong Bombay Army Malta |
| Wars | Gwalior campaign Crimean War Second Opium War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Military career
edit
Van Straubenzee was born at Fort Ricasoli, Malta, in 1812,[1] as the second son of Thomas van Straubenzee (1782–1843), a Royal Artillery major, of Spennithorne, Yorkshire, and his wife Maria, youngest daughter of Major Henry Bowen.[2]
A member of an old and distinguished military family, Van Straubenzee was commissioned into the Ceylon Rifle Regiment in 1828.[3] 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 its commanding officer was wounded and brought the regiment out of action.[3]
In 1846, he transferred to 3rd Battalion the Buffs of which he became commanding officer in 1851,[3] 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.[3]
In 1857, Van Straubenzee became Commander British Forces in Hong Kong and led an attack on Canton during the Second Opium War.[3] 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.[3]
He was colonel of the 47th Regiment of Foot from 1865 to 1867, and of the 39th Regiment of Foot from 1867,[4] until they became part of the Dorset Regiment in 1881, after which he continued as colonel of the 2nd Battalion until 1892.[5] Van Straubenzee became Governor of Malta in 1872.[3]
Van Straubenzee is buried at St Mary the Virgin's Churchyard near Bath, Somerset.[3]
Family
editHe married Charlotte Louisa Richardson in 1841, daughter of General John Luther Richardson.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Cassar, Michael (31 January 2016). "Grand Harbour: from a naval, commercial to a leisure port". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016.
- ^
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Van Straubenzee, Charles Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Vetch, R. H.. "Straubenzee, Sir Charles Thomas Van (1812–1892), rev. Roger T. Stearn". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004 ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/28110. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "47th (the Lancashire) Regiment of Foot". regiments.org. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Conqueror List
