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 |
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
Military offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Henry Smyth |
GOC Western District 1877–1880 |
Succeeded by Thomas Pakenham |
Preceded by Sir George Willis |
GOC Southern District 1889–1890 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn |
Government offices | ||
Preceded by Sir Arthur Hardinge |
Governor of Gibraltar 1890–1891 |
Succeeded by Sir Lothian Nicholson |