Sir George de Lacy Evans | |
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De Lacy Evans by Peter Edward Stroehling, ca. 1825
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Born | 1787 Moig, County Limerick, Ireland |
Died | 9 January 1870 |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | British Army |
Rank | General |
Commands held |
British Legion 2nd Division |
Battles/wars |
Crimean War |
Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France) |
Other work | Member of Parliament |
General Sir George de Lacy Evans GCB (1787 – 9 January 1870) was a British Army general who served in four wars in which the United Kingdom's troops took part in the 19th century. He was later a long-serving Member of Parliament.
Evans was born in 1787, in Moig, County Limerick, Ireland. Educated at Woolwich Academy he followed his elder brother Richard (1782–1847) into the military, joining the East India Company's forces in 1800 before volunteering for the British Army in India in 1806. He obtained an ensigncy in the 22nd Regiment of Foot in 1807 then exchanged into the 3rd Light Dragoons in order to take part in the Peninsular War. He was sent on the expedition to the United States of 1814 during the War of 1812 under Major General Robert Ross. Evans was quartermaster general to Ross at the Battle of Bladensburg on 24 August 1814, and during the Burning of Washington, as well as at the Battle of North Point on 12 September 1814, where Ross was killed.
Evans was actively involved in the New Orleans campaign at the conclusion of the War of 1812. He was the only British Army officer present at the Royal Navy 'small boat action' on Lake Borgne, and was wounded at the battle of New Orleans.