Henry William Breton

Henry William Breton
Henry William Breton
Born7 January 1799
Died22 July 1889 (1889-07-23) (aged 90)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
RankGeneral
CommandsSouth-West District

General Henry William Breton (7 January 1799 – 22 July 1889) was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding South-West District. His twin brother was William Henry Breton.

Military career

Breton was commissioned as an ensign in the 4th Regiment of Foot in March 1815.[1] He became commanding officer of the 53rd Regiment of Foot in 1848 and a brigade commander in India in April 1850.[2] Promoted to major-general in 1851, he became General Officer Commanding South-West District in February 1855[3] and commander of the troops in Mauritius in 1857.[4]

He also served as the twelfth and final colonel of the 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot from 23 April 1860[5] to 1881, when the regiment amalgamated with the 44th Foot to form the Essex Regiment.[6] He continued afterwards as the Colonel of the 2nd Battalion of the Essex regiment.[7]

He was promoted Lieutenant-General 15 December 1861.[8]

He was buried at Highland Road Cemetery in Portsmouth.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Colonel Henry William Breton". King's Own Royal Regiment Museum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  2. ^ "The Kings Shropshire Light Infantry". British Infantry Regiments. Retrieved 2 December 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ Hampshire Chronicle Hampshire, England, 11 April 1857
  4. ^ a b "Memorials & Monuments, formerly in the Royal Garrison Church: General Henry William Breton". Memorials in Portsmouth. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  5. ^ "No. 22383". The London Gazette. 8 May 1860. p. 1744.
  6. ^ Hart's annual Army list, Militia list, and Imperial Yeomanry list, 1867. p. 324. Digitised copy
  7. ^ "Essex Regiment". regiments.org. Archived from the original on 5 July 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ "No. 22587". The London Gazette. 7 January 1962. p. 72.
Military offices
Preceded by GOC South-West District
1855–1857 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Colonel of the 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot
1860–1881 		Merged into the Essex Regiment