William Lumley

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General Sir William Lumley, GCB (28 August 1769 – 15 December 1850) was a British Army officer and royal courtier. He was the seventh son of the Earl of Scarborough and was educated at Eton. In 1787 he joined the 10th Light Dragoons as a cornet, rising through the ranks by purchase to major in 1793 and lieutenant colonel in 1795 with the 22nd Dragoons.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, Lumley led cavalry at Antrim and was badly wounded, but his attack helped defend the town and gave time for the garrison to escape. After recovering, he fought in the Egyptian campaign of 1801. The 22nd Dragoons were disbanded in 1802; Lumley moved to the 2nd Regiment of Reserve, which he led until its disbandment in 1804. He married Mary Sutherland in 1802; she died in 1805.

Promoted to major-general in 1805, Lumley commanded a brigade in London before taking part in the Cape campaign (Battle of Blaauwberg, 1806) and the River Plate operations (Montevideo 1806, Buenos Aires 1807). In 1808 he served with Sir John Stuart in Sicily and Italy, capturing Ischia but withdrawing later that year. He joined the Peninsular War in 1810, and in 1811 he led cavalry at the Second Siege of Badajoz and played a key role at the Battle of Albuera, supporting the Allied assault. He also fought at Usagre, but his health failed and he returned home in August 1811.

Back in Britain, Lumley became a Groom of the Bedchamber in 1812. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1814 and was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1815. In 1817 he married Louisa Margaret Cotton, widow of Colonel Lynch Cotton. He served as Governor of Bermuda from 1819 to 1825, though his term ended with a court case in which he was fined for interfering in church matters.

In retirement he was honorary colonel of several regiments. He was made Knight Grand Cross of the Bath again in 1831 and promoted to full general in 1837, retiring from all duties in 1842. He died in London on 15 December 1850, aged 81. His awards included the Army Gold Medal and the Military General Service Medal.