Richard Stovin
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Richard Stovin (died 1825) was a British Army
officer during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He originally joined the army as an ensign in 1780, and saw service in the American War of Independence, where he may have been taken prisoner after the Battle of Yorktown
. After the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars
, he saw service with a force sent to invade French colonies in the Caribbean, and was taken prisoner in 1794 at Guadeloupe
. Released after two years in captivity, he later commanded his regiment in the Netherlands, in the Helder Expedition of 1799, and on garrison duties in the Mediterranean and in India. In the War of 1812
he was appointed to command a division in the forces in Canada, where an island in the St. Lawrence river was named after him.
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, the son of James Stovin. His elder brother, James, later became a clergyman, a fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge
and a magistrate in Yorkshire, whilst his youngest half-brother, Frederick
, would follow him into the army, rising to the rank of lieutenant-general.
Stovin joined the 17th Regiment of Foot as an ensign on 16 June 1780, and served at the end of the American War of Independence. The 17th Foot was present at the Siege of Yorktown
in October 1781, where it surrendered to the Americans; some 244 officers and men were taken prisoner. However, it is not clear if Stovin was among them. He was promoted to lieutenant in May 1782, but after the Treaty of Paris
in 1783 he was placed on half-pay. He returned to active service by purchasing a lieutenant's commission in the 19th Regiment of Foot in January 1784, and in October 1788 was promoted to captain in the 17th.
He married Anne Acland (b. 1761), the grand-daughter of Sir Hugh Acland, 6th Baronet
, and the sister of John Palmer-Acland, later an MP, and Wrothe Acland, later to become a lieutenant-general. Wrothe Acland had joined the 17th in 1787, as an ensign, and remained with the regiment until 1793; this may have been how the two met.
Following the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars
in 1793, he sailed with the flank companies of the 17th Foot for the West Indies. He was present at the Battle of Martinique
in February and March of 1794, the landings at San Lucia, and the Invasion of Guadeloupe
in April. He was publicly thanked by Sir Charles Grey
, the commander of the force, for his role in the capture of the forts at San Lucia. The occupying force on Guadeloupe was counter-attacked in October, by a French force led by Victor Hugues
, and Stovin was placed in command of one wing of the British force, defending the camp at Berville. He was taken prisoner by the French, and held until March 1796.
and the Battle of Bergen
in September. From 1800 to 1802 he served in the Mediterranean, returning to England after the Peace of Amiens.
The 17th Foot was stationed in India from 1804, and Stovin commanded them at the siege of Chumar in 1807. He was given a brevet colonelcy in 1808, and later posted to command a brigade in India.
On 4 June 1811, Stovin was promoted to major-general, and was sent to Canada in 1813 during the War of 1812
. He commanded the Centre Division from February to July 1814, and the Right Division from October to December. Stovin Island, in the St. Lawrence River, was named for him after the war, one of a number of military commanders commemorated in the "Thousand Islands
".
Stovin was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1821, and died in 1825.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He originally joined the army as an ensign in 1780, and saw service in the American War of Independence, where he may have been taken prisoner after the Battle of Yorktown
Battle of Yorktown
Battle of Yorktown may refer to:*Siege of Yorktown , last major battle during the American Revolutionary War, also known as the American War of Independence*Battle of Yorktown , a battle during the Peninsula campaign of the American Civil War...
. After the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, he saw service with a force sent to invade French colonies in the Caribbean, and was taken prisoner in 1794 at Guadeloupe
Invasion of Guadeloupe (1794)
The Invasion of Guadeloupe was a British attempt in 1794 to take and hold the island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary Wars. Troops led by General Charles Grey were landed on April 11, 1794, and assisted by a fleet led by Admiral Sir John Jervis...
. Released after two years in captivity, he later commanded his regiment in the Netherlands, in the Helder Expedition of 1799, and on garrison duties in the Mediterranean and in India. In the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
he was appointed to command a division in the forces in Canada, where an island in the St. Lawrence river was named after him.
Family and early career
Stovin was born at WhitgiftWhitgift, East Riding of Yorkshire
Whitgift is a small linear hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England approximately east of Goole. It is located alongside the River Ouse and north of the A161 road between Goole and Scunthorpe. Ousefleet and Reedness are to the east and west respectively...
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, the son of James Stovin. His elder brother, James, later became a clergyman, a fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
and a magistrate in Yorkshire, whilst his youngest half-brother, Frederick
Frederick Stovin
General Sir Frederick Stovin GCB, KCMG was a British Army officer who served throughout the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. After the end of the wars, he commanded colonial garrisons and served in administrative roles in Ireland, before retiring with the rank of colonel to take up a position...
, would follow him into the army, rising to the rank of lieutenant-general.
Stovin joined the 17th Regiment of Foot as an ensign on 16 June 1780, and served at the end of the American War of Independence. The 17th Foot was present at the Siege of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
in October 1781, where it surrendered to the Americans; some 244 officers and men were taken prisoner. However, it is not clear if Stovin was among them. He was promoted to lieutenant in May 1782, but after the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
in 1783 he was placed on half-pay. He returned to active service by purchasing a lieutenant's commission in the 19th Regiment of Foot in January 1784, and in October 1788 was promoted to captain in the 17th.
He married Anne Acland (b. 1761), the grand-daughter of Sir Hugh Acland, 6th Baronet
Sir Hugh Acland, 6th Baronet
Sir Hugh Acland, 6th Baronet was the son of John Acland and Elizabeth Acland.-Succession:He succeeded his grandfather as baronet on the latter's death on 9 March 1714...
, and the sister of John Palmer-Acland, later an MP, and Wrothe Acland, later to become a lieutenant-general. Wrothe Acland had joined the 17th in 1787, as an ensign, and remained with the regiment until 1793; this may have been how the two met.
Following the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
in 1793, he sailed with the flank companies of the 17th Foot for the West Indies. He was present at the Battle of Martinique
Battle of Martinique (1794)
The Battle of Martinique was a successful British invasion in 1794 of the island of Martinique in the West Indies, during the French Revolutionary Wars. On 5 February, a fleet under the command of Admiral Sir John Jervis landed troops under the command of General Charles Grey. The invasion was...
in February and March of 1794, the landings at San Lucia, and the Invasion of Guadeloupe
Invasion of Guadeloupe (1794)
The Invasion of Guadeloupe was a British attempt in 1794 to take and hold the island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary Wars. Troops led by General Charles Grey were landed on April 11, 1794, and assisted by a fleet led by Admiral Sir John Jervis...
in April. He was publicly thanked by Sir Charles Grey
Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey, KB PC was one of the most important British generals of the 18th century. He was the fourth son of Sir Henry Grey, 1st Baronet, of Howick in Northumberland. He served in the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence and French Revolutionary War...
, the commander of the force, for his role in the capture of the forts at San Lucia. The occupying force on Guadeloupe was counter-attacked in October, by a French force led by Victor Hugues
Victor Hugues
Victor Hugues was a French politician and colonial administrator during the French Revolution, who governed Guadeloupe from 1794 to 1798, emancipating the island's slaves under orders from the National Convention.-Early life and appointment:Hugues was born in Marseille's salesmen family and was a...
, and Stovin was placed in command of one wing of the British force, defending the camp at Berville. He was taken prisoner by the French, and held until March 1796.
Senior command
On his release in 1796, he was promoted to major, and posted to a staff position in Canada. He returned to his regiment in 1798, when he took command of it in St. Domingo, and after the evacuation of the island was sent to England in order to raise two new battalions from volunteers in the militia. He then led them in the Helder Expedition of late 1799, where he saw action at the Battle of KrabbendamBattle of Krabbendam (1799)
The Battle of Krabbendam of 10 September 1799 was fought during the Anglo-Russian Invasion of Holland between forces of the French Republic and her ally, the Batavian Republic, under the command of French general Guillaume Marie Anne Brune on one side, and a British division under general Sir...
and the Battle of Bergen
Battle of Bergen (1799)
The Battle of Bergen, also called the Battle of Bergen-Binnen, was fought on 19 September 1799, and resulted in a French-Dutch victory under General Brune and General Daendels against the Russians and British under the Duke of York who had landed in North Holland...
in September. From 1800 to 1802 he served in the Mediterranean, returning to England after the Peace of Amiens.
The 17th Foot was stationed in India from 1804, and Stovin commanded them at the siege of Chumar in 1807. He was given a brevet colonelcy in 1808, and later posted to command a brigade in India.
On 4 June 1811, Stovin was promoted to major-general, and was sent to Canada in 1813 during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He commanded the Centre Division from February to July 1814, and the Right Division from October to December. Stovin Island, in the St. Lawrence River, was named for him after the war, one of a number of military commanders commemorated in the "Thousand Islands
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario, the...
".
Stovin was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1821, and died in 1825.