Leicester Smyth

Sir Leicester Smyth
Born 25 October 1829
Died 27 January 1891 (aged 61)
London, United Kingdom
Buried at Gopsall, Leicestershire
Allegiance United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Lieutenant-General
Commands held Western District
Cape Colony
Southern District
Battles/wars Crimean War
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George

Lieutenant General Sir Leicester Smyth KCB KCMG (formerly Curzon-Howe) (25 October 1829 27 January 1891) was Governor of Gibraltar.

Military career

Born the seventh son of Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe and educated at Eton College, Smyth was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1845.[1] He served in the Basuto War in 1852.[1]

In 1854 he was appointed aide-de-camp to Lord Raglan and was present at the Battle of Alma, the Battle of Inkerman and the Siege of Sevastopol.[1] He subsequently served as ADC to General Codington.[1]

He was made Assistant Military Secretary in the Ionian Islands in 1856, Military Secretary in Ireland in 1865 and Deputy Quartermaster in Ireland in 1872.[1]

In 1877 he became General Officer Commanding Western District and in 1880 GOC Cape Colony.[1] He was acting High Commissioner for Southern Africa from 1882 to 1883, GOC Southern District from 1889 to 1890 (in which capacity he hosted a visit by the Shah of Persia[2]) and Governor of Gibraltar from 1890 until his death in 1891, aged 61.[1]

Family

In 1866 he married Alicia Maria Smyth and the following year adopted his wife's maiden name as his own surname: they had no children.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Leicester Smyth". www.oxforddnb.com. Retrieved July 31, 2016. (subscription required (help)).
  2. Rambling Recollections By Henry Drummond Wolff Page 364 BiblioBazaar, 2009, ISBN 978-1-117-69655-3
Military offices
Preceded by
Henry Smyth
GOC Western District
18771880
Succeeded by
Thomas Pakenham
Preceded by
Sir George Willis
GOC Southern District
18891890
Succeeded by
The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Government offices
Preceded by
Sir Arthur Hardinge
Governor of Gibraltar
18901891
Succeeded by
Sir Lothian Nicholson
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