Henry Wylie Norman
Encyclopedia
Field Marshal
Sir Henry Wylie Norman GCB
, GCMG
, CIE
(2 December 1826 – 26 October 1904), Field Marshal
and colonial Governor
.
In 1840 Norman's father, who had been for many years a merchant in Cuba
, became a partner in a mercantile house in Calcutta, where he was joined by his wife and son in 1842 whereupon Henry entered the Indian army at the age of seventeen.
, was selected by him to accompany an expedition against the Kohat Pass
Afridis in 1850 as officiating brigade-major.
The subaltern of twenty-four was given a substantive appointment in this capacity for a splendid deed of gallantry, which is recorded by Sir Charles Napier
in the following terms:
"In the pass of Kohat a sepoy picket, descending a precipitous mountain under fire and the rolling of large stones, had some men killed and wounded. Four of the latter, dreadfully hurt, crept under some rocks for shelter. They were not missed until the picket reached the bottom, but were then discovered by our glasses, high up and helpless. Fortunately the enemy did not see them, and some sepoys volunteered a rescue, headed by Norman of the 31st Native Infantry and Ensign Murray of the 70th Native Infantry. These brave men would that the names of all were known to me for record ascended the rocks in defiance of the enemy, and brought the wounded men down."
Norman served in numerous frontier expeditions between 1850 and 1854, and in the suppression of the Sonthal rebellion of 1855 to 1856. In the Indian Mutiny he was constantly engaged, being present at the siege of Delhi
, the relief of Lucknow
and a number of other affairs. As adjutant-general of the Delhi Field Force, Wylie was one of the leading spirits of the siege, and afterwards became its chief chronicler. Altogether he was mentioned twenty-five times in dispatches.
He afterwards became assistant military secretary for Indian affairs at the Horse Guards in 1860, military secretary to the government of India
in 1862, military member of the viceroy's council in 1870 and member of the Council of India
in 1878.
He married a widow Jemima Anne Temple, née Knowles, in September 1864, but she died the year after.
On 1 March 1870 he married Alice Claudine Sandys.
Sir Henry was transferred in 1889 to be Governor of Queensland. He accepted the position on 12 November 1888 when Sir Henry Blake's nomination proved unacceptable and arrived in Brisbane on 1 May 1889.
Declining the post of viceroy of India in September 1893, Norman left Queensland on 14 November 1895 for London where he acted for a year as agent-general for the colony in London
.
In 1897 he was chairman of the royal commission of inquiry into the condition of the West Indies.
In April 1901 he was appointed governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
in succession to Sir Donald Stewart.
In 1902 he was promoted to Field Marshal
.
Sir Henry died at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, on the 26 October 1904. He was buried in Brompton Cemetery
with military honours, survived by his third wife, two sons and one daughter.
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Sir Henry Wylie Norman GCB
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...
, GCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, CIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
(2 December 1826 – 26 October 1904), Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
and colonial Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
.
Early life
He was born 2 December 1826, only son of James Norman, merchant, and his wife Charlotte, née Wylie.In 1840 Norman's father, who had been for many years a merchant in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, became a partner in a mercantile house in Calcutta, where he was joined by his wife and son in 1842 whereupon Henry entered the Indian army at the age of seventeen.
Career
In 1844 Henry obtained a cadetship. He went through the Second Sikh War and, having attracted the favourable notice of Sir Colin CampbellColin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde
Field Marshal Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde GCB, KSI was a British Army officer from Scotland who led the Highland Brigade in the Crimea and was in command of the ‘Thin red line’ at the battle of Balaclava...
, was selected by him to accompany an expedition against the Kohat Pass
Kohat Pass
Kohat Pass is a mountain pass in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, connecting Kohat with Peshawar, crossing the Khigana Mountains.As the road to the pass is steep and too narrow for large vehicles, the Kohat Tunnel was constructed and opened in June, 2003. -External links:*...
Afridis in 1850 as officiating brigade-major.
The subaltern of twenty-four was given a substantive appointment in this capacity for a splendid deed of gallantry, which is recorded by Sir Charles Napier
Charles James Napier
General Sir Charles James Napier, GCB , was a general of the British Empire and the British Army's Commander-in-Chief in India, notable for conquering the Sindh Province in what is now Pakistan.- His genealogy :...
in the following terms:
"In the pass of Kohat a sepoy picket, descending a precipitous mountain under fire and the rolling of large stones, had some men killed and wounded. Four of the latter, dreadfully hurt, crept under some rocks for shelter. They were not missed until the picket reached the bottom, but were then discovered by our glasses, high up and helpless. Fortunately the enemy did not see them, and some sepoys volunteered a rescue, headed by Norman of the 31st Native Infantry and Ensign Murray of the 70th Native Infantry. These brave men would that the names of all were known to me for record ascended the rocks in defiance of the enemy, and brought the wounded men down."
Norman served in numerous frontier expeditions between 1850 and 1854, and in the suppression of the Sonthal rebellion of 1855 to 1856. In the Indian Mutiny he was constantly engaged, being present at the siege of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, the relief of Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
and a number of other affairs. As adjutant-general of the Delhi Field Force, Wylie was one of the leading spirits of the siege, and afterwards became its chief chronicler. Altogether he was mentioned twenty-five times in dispatches.
He afterwards became assistant military secretary for Indian affairs at the Horse Guards in 1860, military secretary to the government of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1862, military member of the viceroy's council in 1870 and member of the Council of India
Council of India
The Council of India was the name given at different times to two separate bodies associated with British rule in India.The original Council of India was established by the Regulating Act of 1773 as a council of four formal advisors to the Governor-General at Fort William...
in 1878.
Personal life
At Peshawar in India on 14 April 1853, Henry married Selina Eliza Davidson (d.1862), by whom he had three daughters.He married a widow Jemima Anne Temple, née Knowles, in September 1864, but she died the year after.
On 1 March 1870 he married Alice Claudine Sandys.
Later life
During 1883 Sir Henry succeeded Sir Anthony Musgrave as governor of Jamaica and thus began his colonial career as Governor of Jamaica.Sir Henry was transferred in 1889 to be Governor of Queensland. He accepted the position on 12 November 1888 when Sir Henry Blake's nomination proved unacceptable and arrived in Brisbane on 1 May 1889.
Declining the post of viceroy of India in September 1893, Norman left Queensland on 14 November 1895 for London where he acted for a year as agent-general for the colony in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In 1897 he was chairman of the royal commission of inquiry into the condition of the West Indies.
In April 1901 he was appointed governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home and nursing home for British soldiers who are unfit for further duty due to injury or old age, located in the Chelsea region of central London, now the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is a true hospital in the original sense of the word,...
in succession to Sir Donald Stewart.
In 1902 he was promoted to Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
.
Sir Henry died at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, on the 26 October 1904. He was buried in Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
with military honours, survived by his third wife, two sons and one daughter.