Sir George Hewett, 1st Baronet
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General Sir George Hewett, 1st Baronet, GCB, PC (Ire) (11 June 1750 – 21 March 1840) was a British Army officer who was Commander-in-Chief, India and then Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.
Sir George Hewett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 June 1750 |
| Died | 21 March 1840 (aged 89) Freemantle Park, Leicestershire |
| Alma mater | Wimborne Grammar School |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Service years | 1762–1840 |
Rank | General |
| Unit | 43rd Regiment of Foot |
| Commands | Adjutant General in Ireland Inspector General of Army of Reserve Barrackmaster General Commander-in-Chief, India Commander-in-Chief, Ireland |
Conflicts | |
Military career
Educated at Wimborne Grammar School and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Hewett was commissioned into the 70th Regiment of Foot in 1762.[1] In 1771, he went to New York to help control the Carib Uprising and in 1780 he took part in the Siege of Charlestown.[1]
In 1787, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the 43rd Regiment of Foot and in 1791, he went to Ireland where he became Adjutant-General (serving there until 1799).[2] He raised a new Regiment which was designated the 92nd Regiment of Foot.[1][3]
He returned to England, where he served as Inspector General of Recruiting for the British Army from 1798 to 1804.[4] He was given the colonelcy of the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot for life in 1800 and became Barrackmaster-General in 1804.[1] In 1807, he became Commander-in-Chief, India and in 1809 he briefly took over the Government of India while the Governor-General put down a mutiny.[1] His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief, Ireland in 1813.[1]
He was created a Baronet, of Nether Seale in the County of Leicester, on 6 November 1813.[5]
He lived at Freemantle Park near Southampton.[1]
Family
In 1785, he married Julia Johnson and together they went on to have five sons and six daughters, including Col. Sir George Henry Hewett, 2nd Baronet and Lieutenant-Colonel William Hewett.[1][6]