William Morris (soldier)

William Morris
Lieutenant-Colonel William Morris, CB
Born	18 December 1820
Died	11 July 1858
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Lieutenant-Colonel
Battles/wars	Crimean War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath

Lieutenant-Colonel William Morris, CB (18 December 1820 – 11 July 1858), was a British soldier who rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade.

He was born on 18 December 1820 at Fishleigh in the parish of Hatherleigh in Devon, the eldest of four sons of William Cholmeley Morris of Fishleigh and Inwardleigh, and brother of five sisters. His mother was Jane Veale, daughter of James Veale (who following an inheritance had changed his name by deed-poll from "Mallet"). His youngest brother was Col. Montague Cholmeley Morris, formerly a lieutenant in the 75th Regiment, who served during the Indian Mutiny. His grandfather was the wealthy Barbados estate owner William Morris (died 1796) of Bridgetown, Barbados, whose second wife was Mary Judith Cholmeley, a daughter of Robert Cholmeley (died 1754) of Barbados, a younger son of James Cholmeley (died 1735) of Easton, Lincolnshire. Another of Robert Cholmeley's daughters was Katharine Cholmeley (1739–1847), the wife of William Spry (died 1772), Governor of Barbados. Another sister was Jane Cholmeley, who married James Leigh-Perrot (died 1751), the uncle of Jane Austen (1775–1817) the novelist. The will of William Morris of Barbados mentions his Devon estates in the parishes of Inwardleigh, Hatherleigh and Northlew, valued at £12,000., and his manors or lordships of Inwardleigh, Gorhuish and Cleeve. One of the trustees appointed by his will was Montague Cholmeley, his wife's cousin, (and father of Sir Montague Cholmeley, 1st Baronet (1772–1831) of Easton Hall, Lincolnshire) who was directed to purchase more Devon lands with the proceeds of his Barbados estates. William Morris desired in his will to be buried next to the remains of his first wife in "Morris's Chapel" in Westminster Abbey.

He was educated at home before matriculating at St John's College, Cambridge in 1839. His short, stocky build combined with his strength led him to be described as a "pocket Hercules".