George Hewett (1750 - 1840)

Descendants

Died 21 Mar 1840 at age 89 in Southampton, Hampshire, England

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Biography

At a young age he was sent away to be educated at a grammar school in Wimbourne, Dorset. By the age of seven his father, then his mother, had died.

His childhood was much like that of an orphan. in 1761 he joined the Royal Artillery as an Officer Cadet. In 1762 he became an Ensign in the 70th Foot. In 1764 when just 14 years old, he purchased a lieutenancy in this regiment and proceeded to spend the next ten years in the "unhealthy climate" of the West Indies.

He married Julia Johnson in the summer of 1785 and they had 12 surviving children.

A widely respected man and soldier, known personally to King George III, who endured many challenges during his life.

General Sir George Hewett died at Freemantle on 21 March 1840, aged 89 and was buried in the crypt of St James’s Church, Shirley with a memorial placed in the old St Nicholas Church, Millbrook (the church was demolished in 1939). General Sir George Hewett is still commemorated in Freemantle in Sir Georges Road and Hewitt’s (sic) Road in Freemantle.

HIs memoirs can be read in the book below...^[1]

Achievements:

• 1800: Became Colonel of the 61st Foot, British Army, for forty years.
• 1807: Commander-in-Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in India.
• 1813: Commander-in-Chief of the forces in Ireland.
• Created 1st Baronet Hewett, of Nether Seale, Leicestershire, England on 6 November 1813.
• 1816: Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Bath (G.C.B.).

Sources

1. ↑ Private record of the life of General, Sir George Hewett, by George Hewett (Sir).

• The Peerage.
• The Book of Dignities.
• Obituary.
• British Generals of the Napoleonic Wars.
• http://ccfreemantle.co.uk/Freemantle_History_by_E_Kitcher.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2_CxUZb6M97lxKGmSQQrZigUDW7JiVMOlV_sdMX8ZbKgN1IH0Hlbr-6Uo