Henry Edward Bunbury
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Edward Bunbury, 7th Baronet (4 March 1778 – 13 April 1860) was a British soldier and historian.
Sir Henry, son of the famous caricaturist, Henry William Bunbury
and Catherine Horneck, was educated at Westminster, and served on active service in the army from 1795-1809, notably in the Helder Campaign 1799, the Egyptian Campaign 1801, and the campaigns in the Mediterranean, where Bunbury served as Quartermaster-General. He particularly distinguished himself at the Battle of Maida
in 1806. He served as Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
from 1809-16. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General and awarded the KCB
in 1815, and in the same year was responsible for informing Napoleon of his sentence of deportation to St Helena. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
Bunbury succeeded to the baronetcy in 1821 on the death of his uncle, Thomas Charles Bunbury. He was High Sheriff of Suffolk
in 1825 and an active Member of Parliament
for Suffolk
from 1830 to 1832.
Bunbury was the author of several historical works of value, the most notable being his military memoirsNarratives of Some Passages in the Great War with France, first published in 1854.
"Henry Bunbury's Great War with France is perhaps the most valuable record... which any soldier has bequeathed to us of the long struggle that began in 1793 and ended in 1815. and it derives its value from the fact that the author was not only a good soldier, well skilled in his profession, but that he was, as a staff officer, thrown with the best British commanders... of his day; that he had opportunities of discussing with them every point of military policy and the details of many important campaigns; and that further he was a highly educated gentleman, with a seeing eye, a kindly nature, a keen sense of the ridiculous, and a very real literary gift."
Bunbury married twice; firstly in Sicily in 1807 to Louisa Amelia Fox, daughter of General Henry Edward Fox
and secondly in Pau, France in 1830 to Emily Louisa Napier, daughter of Colonel George Napier
. With his first wife he had four sons.
The eldest son, Sir Charles James Fox Bunbury
inherited his title and was a well known naturalist. His second son, Sir Edward Herbert Bunbury, also a member of Parliament, was well known as a geographer and archaeologist, and author of a History of Ancient Geography. Another son Henry William St Pierre Bunbury was an explorer in Western Australia
.
He died at Barton Hall, Bury, Suffolk.
Sir Henry, son of the famous caricaturist, Henry William Bunbury
Henry William Bunbury
Henry William Bunbury was an English caricaturist.The second son of Sir William Bunbury, 5th Baronet , of Mildenhall, Suffolk, he came of an old Norman family...
and Catherine Horneck, was educated at Westminster, and served on active service in the army from 1795-1809, notably in the Helder Campaign 1799, the Egyptian Campaign 1801, and the campaigns in the Mediterranean, where Bunbury served as Quartermaster-General. He particularly distinguished himself at the Battle of Maida
Battle of Maida
The Battle of Maida on 4 July 1806 saw a British expeditionary force fight a First French Empire division outside the town of Maida in Calabria, Italy during the Napoleonic Wars. John Stuart led 5,200 British troops to victory over about 6,000 French soldiers under Jean Reynier, inflicting...
in 1806. He served as Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
The Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was a junior Ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, subordinate to the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies....
from 1809-16. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General and awarded the KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1815, and in the same year was responsible for informing Napoleon of his sentence of deportation to St Helena. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
Bunbury succeeded to the baronetcy in 1821 on the death of his uncle, Thomas Charles Bunbury. He was High Sheriff of Suffolk
High Sheriff of Suffolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Suffolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
in 1825 and an active Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Suffolk
Suffolk (UK Parliament constituency)
Suffolk was a county constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1290 until 1832, when it was split into two divisions.-Boundaries and franchise:...
from 1830 to 1832.
Bunbury was the author of several historical works of value, the most notable being his military memoirsNarratives of Some Passages in the Great War with France, first published in 1854.
"Henry Bunbury's Great War with France is perhaps the most valuable record... which any soldier has bequeathed to us of the long struggle that began in 1793 and ended in 1815. and it derives its value from the fact that the author was not only a good soldier, well skilled in his profession, but that he was, as a staff officer, thrown with the best British commanders... of his day; that he had opportunities of discussing with them every point of military policy and the details of many important campaigns; and that further he was a highly educated gentleman, with a seeing eye, a kindly nature, a keen sense of the ridiculous, and a very real literary gift."
Bunbury married twice; firstly in Sicily in 1807 to Louisa Amelia Fox, daughter of General Henry Edward Fox
Henry Edward Fox
General Henry Edward Fox was a British Army general. He also served for a brief spell as Governor of Minorca.-Family:...
and secondly in Pau, France in 1830 to Emily Louisa Napier, daughter of Colonel George Napier
George Napier
Colonel The Hon. George Napier was a British Army officer, most notable for his marriage to Lady Sarah Lennox, and for his sons Charles James Napier, William Francis Patrick Napier and George Thomas Napier, all of whom were noted military officers, collectively referred to as “Wellington’s...
. With his first wife he had four sons.
The eldest son, Sir Charles James Fox Bunbury
Sir Charles James Fox Bunbury, 8th Baronet
Sir Charles James Fox Bunbury, 8th Baronet, FRS was an English naturalist.He was born in Messina, the eldest son of Sir Henry Bunbury, 7th Baronet and Louisa Amelia Fox and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He married Frances Joanna Horner, daughter of Leonard Horner, on 31 May 1844 in...
inherited his title and was a well known naturalist. His second son, Sir Edward Herbert Bunbury, also a member of Parliament, was well known as a geographer and archaeologist, and author of a History of Ancient Geography. Another son Henry William St Pierre Bunbury was an explorer in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
He died at Barton Hall, Bury, Suffolk.