British soldier and royal court official. He served as Keeper of the Privy Purse and Private Secretary to Queen Victoria. He entered the army on 27 December 1842 as an ensign in the 49th Regiment of Foot. Transferred to the Grenadier Guards, he became a lieutenant on 16 February 1844, captain on 18 July 1848, and major on 19 October 1849. From 1847 to 1858 he was aide-de-camp to Lord Clarendon and Lord St. Germans, successively lord-lieutenants of Ireland. He served through the Crimean campaigns of 1855–1856, becoming lieutenant-colonel on 31 Aug. 1855; for the action before Sebastopol he received a medal with clasp, the Turkish medal, and the Order of the Medjidie, 3rd Class. After the peace he was appointed equerry to Albert, Prince Consort, who greatly valued his services. On 2 August 1860 he became colonel, and in 1862, after the death of the prince, he was sent to Canada in command of a battalion of the Grenadier Guards which was stationed in the colony during the American Civil War. On 6 March 1868 he became a major-general. His appointment as Queen Victoria's Private Secretary occurred on 8 April 1870. On 6 January 1895, he was paralyzed by a stroke, leading to his retirement from office in May that year. He received the Queen Victoria Version of the Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal for 25 years of service to the Royal Family (April 1870 - May 1895). He was portrayed by actor Geoffrey Palmer in the 1997 film, "Mrs. Brown" opposite actress Judi Dench's Queen Victoria.
British soldier and royal court official. He served as Keeper of the Privy Purse and Private Secretary to Queen Victoria. He entered the army on 27 December 1842 as an ensign in the 49th Regiment of Foot. Transferred to the Grenadier Guards, he became a lieutenant on 16 February 1844, captain on 18 July 1848, and major on 19 October 1849. From 1847 to 1858 he was aide-de-camp to Lord Clarendon and Lord St. Germans, successively lord-lieutenants of Ireland. He served through the Crimean campaigns of 1855–1856, becoming lieutenant-colonel on 31 Aug. 1855; for the action before Sebastopol he received a medal with clasp, the Turkish medal, and the Order of the Medjidie, 3rd Class. After the peace he was appointed equerry to Albert, Prince Consort, who greatly valued his services. On 2 August 1860 he became colonel, and in 1862, after the death of the prince, he was sent to Canada in command of a battalion of the Grenadier Guards which was stationed in the colony during the American Civil War. On 6 March 1868 he became a major-general. His appointment as Queen Victoria's Private Secretary occurred on 8 April 1870. On 6 January 1895, he was paralyzed by a stroke, leading to his retirement from office in May that year. He received the Queen Victoria Version of the Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal for 25 years of service to the Royal Family (April 1870 - May 1895). He was portrayed by actor Geoffrey Palmer in the 1997 film, "Mrs. Brown" opposite actress Judi Dench's Queen Victoria.
Bio by: Jennifer M.
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