Charles Waddington (East India Company officer) facts for kids

Charles Waddington (born 1796, died 1858) was an important British soldier. He became a major-general in the Bombay Engineers, which was a part of the British East India Company in India.

Early Life and Training

Charles Waddington was born in London, England, on October 24, 1796. He was one of many sons in his family. When he was a teenager, he went to a special school called Addiscombe Military Seminary. This school trained young men to work for the East India Company. He studied there from 1811 to 1812.

Military Career in India

Waddington started his military career in 1813 as a second lieutenant in the Bombay Engineers. He arrived in India in May 1814. Early in his career, he helped Colonel Kennedy's army in the Concan region. He was praised for his work during attacks on places like Madanghar and Jamba.

After a trip home to England, he returned to India in 1823. He worked as an engineer in different places, including Baroda and Bombay. He was in charge of the engineer corps starting in 1830.

Important Missions

In 1838, Waddington was promoted to major. The next year, he became the chief engineer for the southern provinces. In 1841, he went to Sind (a region now in Pakistan) as the commanding engineer.

He joined Major-General Richard England on a march through the Bolan Pass in 1842. Waddington was recognized for his help at a place called Haikalzai. He then became the commanding engineer for both Baluchistan and Sind.

With Sir Charles Napier

In 1843, Waddington joined Sir Charles Napier on a famous march to Imamghar. Waddington was given the job of destroying the fort there. He personally lit the fuses for some of the explosives!

He also played a key role in the Battle of Miani on February 17, 1843. He worked closely with Napier during the battle. Napier praised Waddington for his "cool courage" during the Battle of Hyderabad (also called Dubba) in March 1843. For his bravery and service, Waddington received a special medal. He was also made a Commander of the Order of the Bath and promoted to lieutenant-colonel.

Later Years

After taking some time off in England, Waddington returned to India. He worked as a chief engineer in Aden starting in 1847. His hard work was highly praised by the East India Company. He continued to rise through the ranks, becoming a colonel in 1853 and a major-general in 1854.

In 1854, he became the chief engineer in the public works department in Bombay. His efforts in preparing for the Persian expedition were officially recognized in 1856. In 1857, Waddington was put in charge of the command in Sind. However, his health declined, and he had to leave India in September 1858. He passed away in London in November of that year.

Family Life

In 1822, Charles Waddington married Anne Rebecca Pinchard. They had a large family with six sons and two daughters. Two of his sons, William and Thomas, also became important military officers in India.