Abraham Roberts

British military officer (1784–1873) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

General Sir Abraham Roberts (11 April 1784 – 28 December 1873) was a British East India Company Army general who served nearly 50 years in India.

Born(1784-04-11)11 April 1784
Died28 December 1873(1873-12-28) (aged 89)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Quick facts GeneralSir Abraham Roberts GCB, Born ...
General

Sir Abraham Roberts

Sir Abraham Roberts
Born(1784-04-11)11 April 1784
Died28 December 1873(1873-12-28) (aged 89)
Allegiance United Kingdom
BranchBritish East India Company
RankGeneral
Unit1st Bengal European Regiment
Commands1st Bengal European Regiment
Lahore Division
ConflictsFirst Afghan War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
RelationsFrederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts (son)
Frederick Roberts (grandson)
Close

Roberts had two sons, who both obtained the highest ranks in the British Army. One son and a grandson would win the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for bravery in the face of the enemy in the British Army.

Early life

Abraham Roberts was a member of a famous Waterford family. He was the son of Anne (Sandys) and The Reverend John Roberts, a magistrate in County Waterford and a rector of Passage East.

Career

General Sir Abraham Roberts gained the rank of colonel in the service of the Honourable East India Company and was the commander of the 1st Bengal European Regiment and the Lahore Division.[1] He fought in the First Afghan War.

Roberts was invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB). He left India in 1853 to live in Ireland with his second wife, who outlived him. He also had a home in Bristol, 25 Royal York Crescent, Bristol, Somerset BS8 – England.[2]

From 1862 until his death, he was Colonel of the 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers).[3]

Family

He married Frances Isabella Ricketts, daughter of George Poyntz Ricketts, on 20 July 1820. On the death of his first wife, he married Isabella Bunbury, daughter of Abraham Bunbury, on 2 August 1830.

Children with Frances Isabella Ricketts

  • Frances Eliza Roberts
  • Maria Isabella Roberts
  • Major General George Ricketts Roberts

Children with Isabella Bunbury

Arms

Coat of arms of Abraham Roberts
Notes
Confirmed by John Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, 27 June 1865.[4]
Crest
A lion rampant Or armed and langued Gules charged on the shoulder with an Eastern crown of the last and holding in the dexter paw a sword the blade wavy Argent hilt and pommel Gold.
Escutcheon
Azure three estoiles Or on a chief wavy of the second an Eastern crown Gules.
Motto
Virtute Et Valore

Footnotes

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