Lieutenant-General William Spry
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General William Spry (1734–1802) was born in Titchfield
, Hampshire
, in 1734, the son of George Spry and Elizabeth Short.
He joined the Royal Engineers
and gradually rose through the ranks.
In about 1770, while a Captain
, William Spry purchased some land in Nova Scotia
and established the settlement known as Spryfield with the aid of stationed soldiers from the nearby Halifax garrison. He sold his property at the end of the American Revolution
(1783) and returned to England
.
In the same year he was made a Colonel
in the Royal Engineers
, rising to the rank of Major-General (1793) and later Lieutenant-General (1799).
Spry died in 1802 and is supposedly buried under the clock tower of St Margaret's, Westminster
.
William was descended from the Spry family
of Roseland, Cornwall
, which bred many army and navy officers. His brother was Lieutenant-General Horatio Spry (1730–1811) and his son was Major-General William Frederick Spry (1770–1814).
Titchfield
Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, in 1734, the son of George Spry and Elizabeth Short.
He joined the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
and gradually rose through the ranks.
In about 1770, while a Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
, William Spry purchased some land in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and established the settlement known as Spryfield with the aid of stationed soldiers from the nearby Halifax garrison. He sold his property at the end of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
(1783) and returned to 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 the same year he was made a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, rising to the rank of Major-General (1793) and later Lieutenant-General (1799).
Spry died in 1802 and is supposedly buried under the clock tower of St Margaret's, Westminster
St. Margaret's, Westminster
The Anglican church of St. Margaret, Westminster Abbey is situated in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, and is the parish church of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London...
.
William was descended from the Spry family
Spry family
The Spry family has resided for many centuries at Place in the Cornish parish known as St Anthony in Roseland. There are a number of memorials in the church, St Anthony's. The Spry family settled in Cornwall in the early 16th century.-Some notable members:...
of Roseland, Cornwall
Roseland, Cornwall
The Roseland Peninsula, or just Roseland, is a district of west Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Roseland is located in the south of the county and contains the town of St Mawes and villages such as St Just and Gerrans...
, which bred many army and navy officers. His brother was Lieutenant-General Horatio Spry (1730–1811) and his son was Major-General William Frederick Spry (1770–1814).