Henry Uksbridzh English Field Marshal Date of Birth: 17.05.1768 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Military Career
2. Service in the Napoleonic Wars
3. Iberian Peninsula and Waterloo
4. Battle of Waterloo and Loss of Limb
5. Post-Waterloo Career

Early Life and Military Career

Henry William Paget, born in London on January 17, 1768, was the son of Sir Henry Bayley. Paget's father inherited the title of 10th Baron Paget in 1770 and was later made the 1st Earl of Uxbridge in 1784. Henry William Paget received his education at Westminster School and Oxford.

In 1790, Paget was elected as the Member of Parliament for Milborne Port in Cornwall, a position he held until 1796. Simultaneously, he joined the Staffordshire Militia, commanded by his father. In September 1793, Paget was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the newly formed Staffordshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Service in the Napoleonic Wars

In June 1794, Paget's regiment was deployed to Flanders as part of the Duke of York's army. He participated in the battles of Fleurus and Charleroi. Following the British retreat to the Netherlands, he served on the Rhine and in Bremen, where he received command of a brigade.

On March 11, 1795, Paget joined the regular army as a Lieutenant in the 7th Regiment of Royal Fusiliers. In the same year, he rose through the ranks, becoming Captain of the 23rd Fusiliers, Major of the 65th Infantry Regiment, and Lieutenant Colonel of the 16th Light Dragoons. He was ultimately posted to the 7th Light Dragoons on April 6, 1796.

Paget distinguished himself in the Anglo-Russian expedition to Holland in 1799 as a cavalry brigade commander. He played a crucial role in the Battle of Bergen on October 2, 1799. In 1801, he was promoted to Colonel.

Iberian Peninsula and Waterloo

Paget arrived in the Iberian Peninsula in late 1808, commanding the English reserve cavalry (cavalry division) in General Sir John Moore's army. He covered the army's retreat to Corunna and participated in the Battle of Salamanca. He also served at Badajoz and Mayorga.

Paget's reputation as a skilled cavalry commander was cemented at the Battle of Benavente on December 28, 1808, where he defeated the French forces of General Moreau and captured the French General Lefebvre-Desnouettes. He later commanded an infantry division in the Pyrenees and joined the expedition to Denmark in September 1809.

In 1812, Paget succeeded his father as Earl of Uxbridge and Baron Paget. In April of that year, he became Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey, a position he held until his death.

In the spring of 1815, Paget was sent to Flanders to command the cavalry and horse artillery in the Duke of Wellington's army. He participated in the Battle of Quatre Bras.

Battle of Waterloo and Loss of Limb

During the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, Uxbridge commanded not only British cavalry but also German and Belgian units. At a critical moment in the battle, he ordered a charge by Ponsonby's and Somerset's cavalry, which helped repulse the attack by General Jean-Baptiste Drouet d'Erlon's 1st Corps.

Later in the battle, Uxbridge faced a significant French cavalry attack with roughly 5,000 troops. He deployed several of his brigades to counter it, driving back the unsupported enemy. However, an artillery shell severely injured Uxbridge, resulting in the loss of his right leg.

Post-Waterloo Career

For his distinguished service at Waterloo, Uxbridge was awarded the Russian Order of St. George, 2nd degree. He was also appointed Lord High Steward at the coronation of King George IV.

Uxbridge was promoted to General in 1819. He held various high-ranking military and political positions, including Master-General of the Ordnance from 1827 to 1828 and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1828 to 1829.

In 1830, he returned as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland after the fall of the Duke of Wellington's government. However, the situation in Ireland spiraled out of control, and Uxbridge resigned in September 1833.

Uxbridge served as Honorary Colonel of the Horse Guards from 1842 and held the position of Master-General of the Ordnance for a second time from 1846 to 1852. He died on April 27, 1854, and was succeeded by his son, who became the 2nd Marquess of Anglesey.