Charles Menzies (commandant)

Sir Charles Menzies
Born	1783 Bal Freike, Perthshire, Scotland
Died	22 August 1866 Hastings, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Marines
Years of service	1798–c.1857
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Napoleonic Wars
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order

General Sir Charles Menzies KCB, KH (1783 – 22 August 1866) was a senior Royal Marines officer. Although he became a respected soldier, fighting with Horatio Nelson in the Napoleonic Wars and later rising to the rank of general before becoming aide de camp to Queen Victoria, Menzies is best remembered for the founding of Newcastle, New South Wales and the successful commencement of its settlement between the age of 21 and 22.

Menzies was born at Bolfrack House, near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1783, the son of Captain Charles Menzies of the 71st Regiment, and mother Sarah Menzies, née Walker. He was educated at Stirling and his family who lived in their ancestral castle, as was done at that time, bought him a commission at the age of 15, as a second lieutenant in the marines on 17 February 1798.

Following his commission he saw plenty of action having been posted to duties that involved blockading French ports and chasing the French and Spanish fleets around the Mediterranean sea. He was attached to Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson's squadron off Boulogne, on France's Atlantic coast and was repeatedly involved in attacking shore batteries and engaged in skirmishes with French boats.

In December 1803 Menzies sailed to Australia on board HMS Calcutta, which was transporting some convicts to New South Wales and then others to form a new settlement in Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen's land).

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