Edward Bowater
Encyclopedia
General Sir Edward Bowater KCH
(1787 – 14 December 1861) was a British soldier and courtier.
family and was the only son of the Admiral Edward Bowater. His mother Louisa was the daughter of Thomas Lane and widow of George Edward Hawkins, who had served as serjeant surgeon to King George III
. He was educated at Harrow School
and went then to the University of Oxford
, where he graduated with a Doctor of Civil Law
.
and was then transferred with his regiment to Portugal
. He joined the Taking of Porto and following the Battle of Talavera, where he was wounded, he purchased a lieutenantcy in August 1809. In December he left for England
, however returned to the Peninsular War
after two years. He fought in the Battle of Salamanca
in July 1812 and the Siege of Burgos
in October. In the following year Bowater took part in the Battle of Vitoria
in June and then was commanded to the Siege of San Sebastián
until September 1813. A month later, he served in the Battle of the Bidassoa
and in December was involved in the fightings of the Battle of the Nive
.
Bowater was advanced to a captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1814, receiving command of a company, and when Napoleon returned from his exile in 1815, he led his men in the Battle of Quatre Bras
. He was wounded again in the Battle of Waterloo
in June. In 1826, Bowater was promoted to colonel and in 1837 to major-general, after which he was awarded a Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order
. He obtained the colonelship of the 49th Regiment of Foot in April 1846 and became lieutenant-general in November. In 1854 he was made a full general.
in 1832, a position he held until the King's death six years later. In 1840 he was admitted to Prince Albert
, who had shortly before arrived at the court, until 1846, when he was appointed Groom in Waiting in Ordinary to the latter's wife Queen Victoria
.
. Their only daughter Louisa became the daughter of Rainald Knightley, 1st Baron Knightley
. Bowater died after short illness in Cannes
in 1861, on the same day as his former master the Prince Consort, while accompanying the latter's son Prince Leopold
on a sojourn.
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
(1787 – 14 December 1861) was a British soldier and courtier.
Background and education
Born in St James's Palace, Bowater descended from a CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
family and was the only son of the Admiral Edward Bowater. His mother Louisa was the daughter of Thomas Lane and widow of George Edward Hawkins, who had served as serjeant surgeon to King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. He was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and went then to the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he graduated with a Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
.
Military career
He entered the British Army in 1804 and was commissioned as ensign into the 3rd Foot Guards. Bowater was present in the Battle of Copenhagen (1807)Battle of Copenhagen (1807)
The Second Battle of Copenhagen was a British preemptive attack on Copenhagen, targeting the civilian population in order to seize the Dano-Norwegian fleet and in turn originate the term to Copenhagenize.-Background:Despite the defeat and loss of many ships in the first Battle of Copenhagen in...
and was then transferred with his regiment to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. He joined the Taking of Porto and following the Battle of Talavera, where he was wounded, he purchased a lieutenantcy in August 1809. In December he left for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, however returned to the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
after two years. He fought in the Battle of Salamanca
Battle of Salamanca
The Battle of Salamanca saw Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish armies under the Duke of Wellington defeat Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces among the hills around Arapiles south of Salamanca, Spain on July 22, 1812 during the Peninsular War....
in July 1812 and the Siege of Burgos
Siege of Burgos
At the Siege of Burgos, from 19 September to 21 October 1812, the Anglo-Portuguese Army led by General Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington tried to capture the castle of Burgos from its French garrison under the command of General of Brigade Jean-Louis Dubreton. The French repulsed every...
in October. In the following year Bowater took part in the Battle of Vitoria
Battle of Vitoria
At the Battle of Vitoria an allied British, Portuguese, and Spanish army under General the Marquess of Wellington broke the French army under Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan near Vitoria in Spain, leading to eventual victory in the Peninsular War.-Background:In July 1812, after...
in June and then was commanded to the Siege of San Sebastián
Siege of San Sebastian
In the Siege of San Sebastián Allied forces under the command of General Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington captured the city of San Sebastián in northern Spain from its French garrison under Brigadier-General Louis Rey...
until September 1813. A month later, he served in the Battle of the Bidassoa
Battle of the Bidassoa (1813)
In the Battle of the Bidassoa on 7 October 1813 the Allied army of Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington wrested a foothold on French soil from Nicolas Soult's French army. The Allied troops overran the French lines behind the Bidassoa River on the coast and along the Pyrenees crest between the...
and in December was involved in the fightings of 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...
.
Bowater was advanced to a captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1814, receiving command of a company, and when Napoleon returned from his exile in 1815, he led his men in the Battle of Quatre Bras
Battle of Quatre Bras
The Battle of Quatre Bras, between Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army and the left wing of the Armée du Nord under Marshal Michel Ney, was fought near the strategic crossroads of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815.- Prelude :...
. He was wounded again in the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
in June. In 1826, Bowater was promoted to colonel and in 1837 to major-general, after which he was awarded a Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
. He obtained the colonelship of the 49th Regiment of Foot in April 1846 and became lieutenant-general in November. In 1854 he was made a full general.
At court
Bowater was nominated an equerry to King William IVWilliam IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
in 1832, a position he held until the King's death six years later. In 1840 he was admitted to Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
, who had shortly before arrived at the court, until 1846, when he was appointed Groom in Waiting in Ordinary to the latter's wife Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
Personal life
In 1839, Bowater married Emilia Mary, the daughter of Colonel Michael BarneMichael Barne
Michael Barne was an officer of the 1901-04 Discovery Expedition and was the last survivor of the expedition.-Early life:...
. Their only daughter Louisa became the daughter of Rainald Knightley, 1st Baron Knightley
Rainald Knightley, 1st Baron Knightley
Rainald Knightley, 1st Baron Knightley , known as Sir Rainald Knightley, 3rd Baronet, from 1864 to 1892, was a British Conservative Party politician.-Background:...
. Bowater died after short illness in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
in 1861, on the same day as his former master the Prince Consort, while accompanying the latter's son Prince Leopold
Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany
The Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany was the eighth child and fourth son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Leopold was later created Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence, and Baron Arklow...
on a sojourn.