John Squire (British Army officer)
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John Squire (1780–1812) was a British Army officer who rose to become a brevet lieutenant-colonel in the Corps of Royal Engineers during the Napoleonic Wars. Being a writer and diarist who kept journals of his travels, these and his supporting role in some of military campaigning's great moments – Egypt in 1801, South America in 1807, Sweden in 1808, the Netherlands at various stages and Spain in 1811–12 – have made Squire a moderately well-known figure among scholars who study the era.[1]
The eldest son of Dr. John Squire (1732–1816) of Ely Place, London, the founder in 1788 the Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of Medical Men, he was born in London. He was educated at Charterhouse School under Matthew Raine, and, after passing through the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, he received a commission as second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in January 1797. He was promoted to be first lieutenant on 29 August 1798.[2]
In August 1799, Squire embarked with the Helder Expedition (the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland) under Sir Ralph Abercromby. He took part in the engagement of 10 September, when he was wounded. He was also in the actions of Bergen and Alkmaar on 2 and 6 October. He returned with the army to England at the end of October.
In the Mediterranean
In 1801, Squire went to Egypt, and served throughout the campaign there under Abercromby and under General Hutchinson. He was present at the Battle of Alexandria on 21 March, the capture of Rosetta on 8 April, the capture of Fort St. Julien after a three days' siege on 19 April, the siege of Alexandria in August, and its capitulation, after an armistice of some days, on 2 September.[2]
On the conclusion of the Egyptian campaign, Squire obtained leave of absence, and, in company with William Martin Leake and William Richard Hamilton, made a tour through Syria and Greece. On leaving Athens for Malta in the brig Mentor, laden with some of the Elgin Marbles, Squire's party was wrecked on the island of Cythera on 17 September 1802, and narrowly escaped death. Many of the marbles and some papers were recovered.[2]
Service in South America and northern Europe
Squire was promoted to be captain lieutenant in February 1803, and second captain on 19 July 1804. He was employed in the southern military district on the defences of the coast of Sussex. On 1 July 1806 he was promoted to be first captain, and appointed commanding royal engineer in the expedition to South America. He accompanied Sir Samuel Auchmuty to the Río de la Plata, landing in January 1807. Squire conducted the siege operations at Montevideo: after a practicable breach was made, it was carried by storm on 3 February. He was also commanding Royal Engineer under Major-general John Whitelocke in the operations from 28 June to 5 July. It culminated in the attack on Buenos Aires and the surrender of Montevideo, and the expedition returned to England. Squire was a witness for the prosecution at the court-martial held in London in March 1808.[2]
In April 1808 Squire accompanied Sir John Moore's expedition to Sweden, and in the summer went with Moore's army to Lisbon, taking part in all the operations of the campaign, which ended on 16 January 1809 in the Battle of Coruña. He embarked the same night with the army for England, arriving in February. In April he was sent by Lord Castlereagh in a frigate on a secret mission to the Baltic Sea, to report on the island of Bornholm as a defensive naval station.[2]
On 28 July of the same year, Squire took part in the Walcheren Campaign. He sailed, as commanding Royal Engineer to Sir John Hope's division, with the army under the Earl of Chatham to the River Scheldt. On 30 July he reconnoitred the channel and shores of the East Scheldt with Captain Peake, R.N.. He took part in the siege of Vlissingen, and was present at its capture on 14 August, returning to England in December.[2]
