Edward Selby Smyth
General Sir Edward Selby Smyth, KCMG (31 March 1819 – 22 September 1896) was a British General. He served as the first General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada from 1874 to 1880.
Sir Edward Selby Smyth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 31 March 1819 Belfast, Ireland |
| Died | 22 September 1896 (aged 77) England |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/ | Canadian Militia |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada |
| Battles/wars | Fenian Rising |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George |
Military career
Educated at Putney College in Surrey, Smyth was commissioned in to the 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment in 1841.[1] He went straight to India only returning with his Regiment to England as Adjutant of his Battalion in 1846.[1] He went to South Africa in 1851 to protect the administration of the Orange River Sovereignty from attack by the Basotho and Khoikhoi people.[1]
In 1853 he was made Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster-General of the 2nd Division in South Africa and then Adjutant and Quartermaster-General at British Army Headquarters in South Africa.[1]
In 1861 he was appointed Inspector-General of the Militia in Ireland and was involved in suppressing the early stages of the Fenian Rising.[1] He was appointed General Officer Commanding British Troops in Mauritius in 1870.[1]
He was made General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada in 1874: he carried out the role successfully and was thanked by the Governor-General of Canada for protecting Montreal from rioting.[1]
Family
In 1848 he married Lucy Sophia Julia Campbell, daughter of Major-General Sir Guy Campbell, 1st Baronet and Pamela FitzGerald.[1]
References
- The Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men. Ontario Volume. American Biographical Publishing Company. 1880. Archived from the original on 27 November 2005.
- Cooke, O.A. (16 December 2013). "Sir Edward Selby Smyth". The Canadian Encyclopedia (online ed.). Historica Canada.
- "General Sir Edward Selby Smyth KCMG". The Queen's Royal Surrey Regimental Association.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Held by Commander-in-Chief, North America |
General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada 1874–1880 |
Succeeded by Richard Luard |
| Preceded by Frederick Wilkinson |
Colonel of The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 1893–1896 |
Succeeded by Granville Chetwynd-Stapylton |
| Preceded by New Regiment |
Colonel of the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders 1881–1893 |
Succeeded by William Parke |
| Preceded by Charles Gascoyne |
Colonel of the 72nd Regiment, Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders 1881 |
Succeeded by Amalgamated into Seaforth Highlanders |