John Elley
| John Elley | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Sir John Elley by William Salter
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| Born |
9 January 1764 Leeds, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 23 January 1839 (aged 75) Cholderton Lodge, East Cholderton, Hampshire, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1789–1839 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Unit | Royal Regiment of Horse Guards |
| Battles/wars |
French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars |
Lieutenant-General Sir John Elley KCB KCH KMT KSG (9 January 1764 – 23 January 1839) was a British soldier who joined the cavalry as a private, and rose to general officer rank. He fought with distinction during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and later served as Governor of Galway and as Colonel of the 17th Lancers.
Information about Elley is scarce, perhaps partly because of his humble origins. He was born in Leeds in 1764. His father ran an eating-house at Furnival's Inn. Apprenticed to Mr. John Gelderd, a tannery owner of the village of Meanwood near Leeds, West Yorkshire, he became engaged to his masters daughter Anne. After her untimely death, he enlisted, in 1789, as a trooper in the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, and saw service in the Flanders Campaign (1793–1795).
Elley made his first step out of the ranks by becoming a Cornet in his regiment on 14 June 1794. On 30 January 1796 he was promoted to Lieutenant, and 11 January 1800 was made a Captain-Lieutenant. Elley acquired promotion to Captain by Purchase on 17 March 1801 to Major on 15 December 1804, and to Lieutenant-Colonel on 11 March 1806.
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