Lord william reid biography templates

&#;REID, Sir WILLIAM (–), major-general royal engineers, and colonial guide, eldest son of James Philosopher, minister of the established sanctuary of Scotland at Kinglassie, Fifeshire, and of his wife Alexandrina, daughter of Thomas Fyers, dupe engineer in Scotland, was basic at Kinglassie on 25 Apr The family of Reid was formerly of Barra Castle, Aberdeenshire. Reid was educated at Musselburgh and at the Edinburgh School. He entered the Royal Force Academy, Woolwich, in , existing before obtaining a commission forbidden was sent to learn multipurpose surveying under Colonel William Mudge [q. v.] He was gazetted a second lieutenant in leadership royal engineers on 10 Feb. , and promoted first deputy 23 April In the harmonized month he joined the Land army under Wellington at The capital of Portugal.

On landing in Portugal, Philosopher was employed in the interpretation of the defensive lines be beneficial to Torres Vedras. In April operate was sent to Elvas come close to take part in the twig siege of Badajos. Ground was broken on 8 May. Haul up 10 May the garrison thankful a daring sortie, and Philosopher, who played a gallant eminence in the encounter, was ramshackle in the knee. The leading siege was raised on 13 May. &#;During the second siege, which was raised in June, Philosopher did duty in the trenches.

Towards the end of purify served in the expedition descend General Don Carlos d'Espagña. Distinction latter commended his zeal extort skill to Wellington, who sculpture him in despatches. In Jan Reid was at the encircle of Ciudad Rodrigo, and was wounded by a bullet intimate the leg in the ract of 19 Jan., when greatness place fell. The bullet was never extracted. After the shaky defences had been repaired standing strengthened, the fortress was reasonable over to a Spanish armed force, and Reid, with other staff of royal engineers, was mincing to Elvas for the gear siege of Badajos. He was employed in the trenches hanging fire the place was taken harsh assault on 6 April. Handwriting from Elvas on 15 Foot it , Sir Richard Fletcher wise to the inspector-general of fortifications that Reid should be promoted to the rank of brevet captain on account of consummate commanding merits at Badajos take precedence Ciudad Rodrigo. The promotion have fun a lieutenant of royal engineers to the brevet rank was without precedent, and Fletcher's aid was rejected.

In June , when Wellington laid siege endure the Salamanca forts, Reid imposture a gallant but ineffectual exertion to blow in a faculty of the counterscarp of Association San Vincento. On the Twentythird he led an unsuccessful onslaught by escalade on Fort Gayetano, when men were killed leading wounded. He was mentioned both in the general orders be fitting of the 6th division by Major-general Sir Henry Clinton and overfull Wellington's despatch. The capture longed-for the forts was effected reminder 27 June. On 22 July Reid took part in grandeur battle of Salamanca, entered Madrid with Wellington on the Twelfth, and was present at greatness capture of the Retiro palatial home on 14 Aug.

In Sept and October Reid was refer to the siege of Burgos, present-day took part in the slur assault by escalade on dignity outer line on 22 Stock. Some fortnight later he level ill and took no new-found part in the siege, which was raised on 21 Round up. He was in winter cremation with the army in Portugal until May In June powder took a prominent part contact the operations preceding the struggle against of Vittoria. On 19 June, when the division came features with the enemy's rearguard, deed was ordered by Wellington acquaintance attack their left flank, depiction direction of the operation was given to Reid, who, proper one Caçador battalion, performed decency service with masterly effect. Advance the battle of Vittoria (21 June) Alten wrote that oversight derived the greatest assistance reject Reid's advice and activity.

Even more conspicuous was Reid's appreciate at the siege of San Sebastian, where ground was fragmented on 11 July He blew in the counterscarp before dawning on 25 July, and, charming part in the succeeding blitzkrieg which was repulsed, was tottering in the neck. He was thought to be dead, on the contrary his silk neckerchief was basement pressed into the wound, celebrated on withdrawing it the side came with it. The city was eventually taken by disobey on 31 Aug., and birth castle surrendered on 8 House. On 27 Aug. Alten fated the especial attention of Sir Richard Fletcher to Reid's politesse, but Fletcher was killed in advance Alten's letter arrived, and aught came of it. In Feb he was employed in interpretation construction of the great break off of boats for the traversal of the Adour. He was entrusted with the duty long-awaited securing the cables on position right or enemy's bank. Sir William Napier describes the coordination of this bridge as out ‘stupendous undertaking, which must in every instance rank among the prodigies gaze at war’ (History of the Peninsular War, vol. vi.).

Reid took part in the battles all but the Nivelle, the Nive, most recent Toulouse, and returned to England at the conclusion of position war. He received his backing to second captain on 20 Dec. In July he was ordered to proceed on public housing expedition under Sir Edward Pakenham against New Orleans, which was unsuccessfully attacked on 4 Jan. In this attack there was killed a young officer snare royal engineers, Lieutenant Wright, who had served throughout the preferable part of the Peninsular fighting alongside of Reid. Wellington hand-me-down jocosely to refer to magnanimity friends as two of consummate favourite youngsters, ‘Read and Write.’ Reid took part in cruel further operations and in prestige capture of Fort Bowyer, away Mobile, on 12 Feb. Sharp-tasting returned to England in Possibly will. The following month he went to the Netherlands, and took part in the march maneuver Paris and in the pictures and occupation of that get into. For his services in high-mindedness Peninsula he received the silver plate war medal with eight clasps, but no brevet promotion.

Reid left Paris in January , and was quartered at Woolwich, where, in April, he was appointed adjutant of the speak sappers and miners. A sporadic months later he accompanied high-mindedness expedition against Algiers under Ruler Exmouth, and was on foil the Queen Charlotte during loftiness bombardment of the town bring about 27 Aug., when he sports ground his sappers worked at glory guns, and after the swift rendered assistance in repairing nobility damage done to the nurture. For their services they were thanked in general orders, fairy story Reid received the medal obey Algiers. He returned to England in November, and resumed sovereignty duties &#;at Woolwich. On 20 Go on foot he was promoted brevet-major expend gallant and distinguished conduct opinion service, after both Lord Exmouth and Wellington had made sinewy recommendations on the subject. Programme 1 Feb. he was to be found on half-pay, on the curtailment of the corps of sovereign engineers, consequent on the go back of the army of work from France; but he was brought back to full benefit on 12 March , additional quartered in Ireland. In Dec he was appointed to goodness ordnance survey of Ireland, extort remained in Dublin until June , when he was nautical port without employment until his press, on 28 Jan. , make contact with the regimental rank of culminating captain. He was then dispatched to the Exeter district, explode took part in the cramming for quelling the reform riots in the west of England. On 8 Dec. he embarked for the West Indies, additional at Barbados he did good service in rebuilding the polity buildings which had been disordered down in the hurricane pleasant 10 Aug.

The disastrous end result of this hurricane directed Reid's attention to the subject abide by storms. In his researches stylishness was materially assisted by prestige previous labours of Mr. William C. Redfield of New Royalty, who had, in a sighting to the ‘American Journal have a high opinion of Science’ in , demonstrated lose one\'s train of thought the hurricanes of the Land coast were whirlwinds moving assessment curved tracts with considerable pace. Reid's correspondence with Redfield problem three folio volumes was debonair to the library of University University, U.S.A., by John Gyrate. Redfield. Reid set himself relax confirm and extend Redfield's standpoint by collating the log-books be a devotee of British men-of-war and merchantmen. Noteworthy also collected data in tidy-up to corroborate the theory dump south of the equator, display accordance with the regularity evinced in all natural law, storms would be found to carry in a directly contrary give directions. In May he returned lay at the door of England, and, not being needed for military duty, he, tabloid a year and a bisection, continued his investigations.

On 7 Sept. Reid was placed consumption half-pay on embarkation for Espana to join the British different of ten thousand which esoteric been raised in England, reap the sanction of the In good faith government, for the service detail the queen regent of Espana against Don Carlos. Reid confidential accepted from General Sir Martyr De Lacy Evans [q. v.], his old comrade in character Peninsula, the command of a- brigade of infantry. He adage a good deal of fighting; was at the siege ferryboat Bilbao, which was raised amplify November , co-operated with Espartero in the attack on Arlaban in January , and aided to raise the siege line of attack San Sebastian on 5 The fifth month or expressing possibility, when ninety-seven officers and quintuplet hundred men out of a-one force of five thousand were lost. On this occasion Philosopher was again wounded in rectitude neck while attacking the contours in front of San Sebastian. On 31 May and constant worry the early part of June he took part in representation repulse of the Carlist assault on the position of Anatomist. He returned to England follow August, and was restored teach the full-pay unemployed list.

On 10 Jan. he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and on 17 Feb. was sent to Portsmouth, circle he remained for nearly yoke years. On 19 July appease was made a C.B. Make known this year the result chuck out his scientific labour was publicized in London in ‘An Try to develop the Law method Storms by means of Keep information, arranged according to Place obscure Time, and hence to depression out a Cause for position Variable Winds.’ The volume was illustrated by charts and woodcuts (2nd edit., with additions, ; 3rd edit. ). The research paper laid down, for the direction of seamen, those broad endure general rules which are methodical as the ‘law of storms.’ The announcement of this concept was received with the focal point interest by the scientific universe, and the book went attempt many editions and has archaic translated into many languages, counting Chinese.

In January , surround which year he was elect a fellow of the Kinglike Society, Reid was appointed coach of the Bermuda Islands. Dirt found the coloured population admit the Bermudas, who had antiquated recently freed from slavery, outdoors any education. He established provincial schools throughout the colony instruction procured annual votes from magnanimity legislature for their support. Economy was in a very bashful state; the chief implement round out tilling was the hoe, coupled with exports were confined to achira and onions, the latter turn out sent only to the Westbound Indies. Reid soon perceived renounce the Bermudas might be through a market garden for initially potatoes and other vegetables take care of the United States. He lower-level to work to train magnanimity people in an improved profile of cultivation. He purchased probity discharge of some soldiers bend a good knowledge of horticulture, and employed them as instructors. He imported ploughs and pander to suitable implements. He introduced justness best varieties of seeds, challenging, by holding agricultural shows put forward ploughing and sowing matches, itchy the people to adopt emblematic industry which is now their main support. He started spick public library, and in to such a degree accord many ways developed the double of the colony and best the condition of the dynasty that to this day good taste is remembered as the ‘good governor.’

On 23 Nov. Philosopher was promoted re&#;gimental lieutenant-colonel. Constrict December he was transferred go over the top with the Bermudas to Barbados, divulge be governor-in-chief of the Weather West India Islands. He true himself to the amelioration reduce speed the condition of the colored race and to the get out of bed of the resources of justness colonies; but he resigned rank government in , owing end up the action of the inhabitants office in reinstating the dominant justice of St. Lucia, who, having exposed himself to ban in a case of misrepresentation, had been suspended by Philosopher with the approval of depiction secretary of state. While boast Barbados, he first suggested swell series of rudimentary technical treatises which was carried out vulgar the publisher, John Weale [q. v.] of Holborn.

Reid common to England in September , and on 1 Jan. resumed military duty as commanding sovereign august engineer at Woolwich. He was elected a vice-president of interpretation Royal Society in On 12 Feb. , on the aid of Henry Labouchere (afterwards Potentate Taunton) [q. v.], president look after the board of trade, Philosopher was appointed chairman of rank executive committee of the Ready to step in Exhibition to be held rank following year in Hyde Greensward, London. His judicious arrangements unsolicited materially to the success ceremony this undertaking, and its prompt opening at the appointed intention was in great measure concession to his quiet determination. Unwind was rewarded with a lay K.C.B. in

On 27 Round up. Reid was appointed governor come first commander-in-chief at Malta. On rank 11th of the following period he was promoted brevet-colonel. Inaccuracy became a regimental colonel reduce 17 Feb. and major-general give up 30 May At Malta Philosopher displayed the unostentatious activity which had distinguished his previous governments. In a time of memorable difficulty, when Malta was bully entrepôt of the first help to the British army middle the Crimea, and its plea bargain were strained to the endmost, he succeeded in meeting name demands, acting in perfect compatibility with the admiral at leadership station, Sir Houston Stewart [q. v.] He also carried early payment measures for the benefit near the people: he founded distinction agricultural school; he imported control superiors agricultural implements; he introduced fine new species of the drift plant and seeds adapted accept the climate; he established barometers in public places to admonish the shipping and fishermen sun-up impending gales. He also took in hand the library nucleus the old knights of Island, and, by introducing modern books, made it a useful disclose library for the community.

Reid returned to England in rendering summer of , and mindnumbing after a short illness settlement 31 Oct. of that harvest at his residence, (now 93) Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park, Author. He married, on 5 Nov. , at Clapham, Sarah (born on 16 Oct. ), youngest daughter of John Bolland, M.P., formerly of Marham, Yorkshire, trip later of Clapham, London. Moslem Reid died at St. Leonards, Sussex, on 19 Feb. , nine months before her keep. Five daughters survived them, confront whom Charlotte Cuyler married Public Sir Neville Chamberlain, G.C.B., G.C.S.I.

Reid was a member elect the Institute of Civil Engineers and of many learned societies and institutions of various countries. His diplomas, with all emperor private papers, were destroyed wear the fire at the Pantechnicon, Baker Street, London, in Unembellished monument was erected to her highness memory by the people try to be like the Bermudas in the goal surrounding the public buildings certified Hamilton. It is an dagger of grey granite, with a-ok medallion bust and inscription. Reid's name is also recorded mark out the royal engineers' memorial plod Rochester Cathedral to the lecturers who served in the Peninsular war. An engraving was available by Graves of Pall Spectacle, London, of a portrait considerate Reid, by J. Lane, a- copy of which hangs send down the mess of the kingly engineers at Chatham. Besides distinction works noticed, Reid published: 1. ‘Defence of Fortresses,’ pamphlet, 8vo, 2. ‘Defence of Towns endure Villages,’ pamphlet, 8vo, 3. ‘The Progress of the Development nominate the Law of Storms courier of the Variable Winds, stomach the Practical Application of illustriousness Subject to Navigation,’ 8vo, Author, 4. ‘Narrative, written by Sea-Commanders, illustrative of the Law gaze at Storms and of its Versatile Application to Navigation, edited offspring Sir W. Reid, No. 1,’ 8vo, London, (no further in excess were published). He made profuse contributions to the ‘Professional Documents of the Corps of Imperial Engineers,’ quarto series, vol. uproarious. ‘On Assaults,’ ‘Forts of Salamanca and Fortress of Burgos,’ ‘Account of the Attack of Skyscraper Laredo near Santoña,’ ‘Description advice the Concrete Sea-wall at City and the Groynes which encouragement the foot of it,’ ‘A Short Account of the Dissect of a Part of distinction Brighton Chain Pier in honourableness Gale of 30 Nov. ,’ ‘Hints for the Compilation be required of an Aide-Mémoire for the Party of Royal Engineers,’ ‘On say publicly Destruction of Stone Bridges.’ Vol. ii. ‘On Entrenchments as Supports in Battle and on influence Necessity of completing the Militaristic Organisation of the Royal Engineers,’ ‘Further Observations on the Step on the gas of the Shingle of ethics Beach along the Coast,’ ‘On Hurricanes.’ Vol. iii. &#; ‘On greatness Decomposition of Metallic Iron twist Salt Water and of wellfitting Reconstruction in a Mineral Form.’ Vol. iv. ‘On lodging Garrison in Fortresses at their Alert Posts.’ Vol. x. ‘Properties wrapping Cultivation in St. Lucia.’