John Clavering (British Army officer)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Sir John Clavering KB
(bapt. 1722 - 30 August 1777) was an army officer and diplomat.
, England
in 1722, Clavering was the younger son of Sir James Clavering Bt and Catherine Yorke, and younger brother of Sir Thomas Clavering, 7th Baronet
. He was commissioned as ensign
in the Army in 1736, and was a captain of the Coldstream Guards
by 1753.
During the Seven Years' War
, Clavering served in the West Indies, commanding the attack on Guadeloupe
, in 1759. In 1762, he obtained a colonelcy on the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot
. Promoted to Lieutenant General, in 1770, Clavering was appointed as governor of Landguard Fort
. In 1773, Clavering travelled to India as a member of the Council of Bengal. In 1774, shortly after Warren Hastings
was appointed Governor General, Clavering was appointed as Commander in Chief in India.
He was created a Knight of the Bath in 1775. He died at Calcutta, India, and is buried there in South Park Street Cemetery
.
. Lady Diana died in 1766. In 1772, Clavering married his cousin, Catherine Yorke.
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...
(bapt. 1722 - 30 August 1777) was an army officer and diplomat.
Military career
Baptised in Lanchester, County DurhamLanchester, County Durham
Lanchester is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England, and was in the former district of Derwentside . It is to the west of the city of Durham and from the former steel town of Consett, and has a population of slightly over 4,000 people.Although there was a small drift mine on the...
, 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...
in 1722, Clavering was the younger son of Sir James Clavering Bt and Catherine Yorke, and younger brother of Sir Thomas Clavering, 7th Baronet
Sir Thomas Clavering, 7th Baronet
Sir Thomas Clavering, 7th Baronet succeeded to the Baronetcy of Axwell and to the family estates on the death of his father in 1748....
. He was commissioned as ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
in the Army in 1736, and was a captain of the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
by 1753.
During the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, Clavering served in the West Indies, commanding the attack on Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, in 1759. In 1762, he obtained a colonelcy on the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot
52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot
The 52nd Regiment of Foot was a light infantry regiment of the British Army throughout much of the 18th and 19th centuries. The regiment first saw active service during the American War of Independence, and were posted to India during the Anglo-Mysore Wars...
. Promoted to Lieutenant General, in 1770, Clavering was appointed as governor of Landguard Fort
Landguard Fort
Built just outside Felixstowe, Suffolk, at the mouth of the River Orwell, Landguard Fort was designed to guard the entrance to Harwich. The first fortifications from 1540 were a few earthworks and blockhouse, but it was James I of England who ordered the construction of a square fort with bulwarks...
. In 1773, Clavering travelled to India as a member of the Council of Bengal. In 1774, shortly after Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
was appointed Governor General, Clavering was appointed as Commander in Chief in India.
He was created a Knight of the Bath in 1775. He died at Calcutta, India, and is buried there in South Park Street Cemetery
South Park Street Cemetery
South Park Street Cemetery is located on Mother Teresa Sarani, Kolkata, India. The road used to be called Park Street, and prior to that Burial Ground Road....
.
Family
Clavering was married twice; firstly (in 1756) he married Lady Diana West, daughter of John West, 1st Earl De La WarrJohn West, 1st Earl De La Warr
Lieutenant-General John West, 1st Earl De La Warr KB, PC, FRS , styled The Honourable John West until 1723 and known as The Lord De La Warr between 1723 and 1761, was a British soldier, courtier and politician....
. Lady Diana died in 1766. In 1772, Clavering married his cousin, Catherine Yorke.