Edward Cornwallis
| Edward Cornwallis | |
|---|---|
Edward Cornwallis by Joshua Reynolds (1756)
|
|
| Born | 5 March 1713 London, England |
| Died | 14 January 1776 (aged 62) Gibraltar |
| Buried at | Culford, Suffolk |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Great Britain
|
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1730s–1776 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | 8th Foot |
| Commands held | 20th Foot, 40th Foot, 24th Foot |
| Battles/wars | |
| Relations |
Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis – father Lady Charlotte Butler – mother Mary Townshend – wife |
| Other work | Governor of Gibraltar |
Lieutenant General Edward Cornwallis (5 March 1713 – 14 January 1776) was a British military officer who founded, and later became Lieutenant Governor of, Halifax, Nova Scotia. He later served as the Governor of Gibraltar.
He was the sixth son of Charles, 4th Baron Cornwallis, and Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of the Earl of Arran. The Cornwallis family possessed estates at Culford in Suffolk and the Channel Islands. His grandfather, Charles Cornwallis, 3rd Baron Cornwallis, was First Lord of the Admiralty. His nephews were Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, James Cornwallis, 4th Earl Cornwallis, and William Cornwallis.
He and his twin brother, Frederick Cornwallis, were made royal pages at the age of 12. They were enrolled at Eton at age 14. Their brother, Stephen Cornwallis, rose to the rank of General in the Army.
It was initially unclear which brother would enter the church and which the military. The matter was decided when, one day, Frederick fell and paralyzed his arm; he would take the religious path.
At age 18, Edward was commissioned into the 47th Regiment of Foot in 1731.
...
Wikipedia