George Fead facts for kids
George Fead (born around 1729, died 1815) was an important British army officer. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general and was a colonel-commandant in the Royal Artillery, which is the part of the army that uses cannons and big guns.
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George Fead's Military Journey
George Fead began his military career at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in 1756. This was a special school for training army officers. He started as a cadet, which is like a trainee officer. Over many years, he steadily moved up through different ranks. By 1810, he had become a lieutenant-general, a very high position in the army.
Early Battles and Captivity
Fead's first major experience in battle was in 1758. He was a young officer during the Seven Years' War and took part in the Siege of Louisburg in Cape Breton. A siege is when an army surrounds a fort or city to try and capture it.
Later, he was captured by the enemy in Newfoundland. However, he was soon released as part of a prisoner exchange. This meant that he was swapped for an enemy soldier who had been captured by the British.
Service in America and Menorca
After being exchanged, Fead returned to America. He served there for several years, including time in a place called Pensacola.
From 1774 to 1781, he was stationed on the island of Menorca. He was in charge of the artillery during the defense of Fort St. Philip. This was a difficult time, and during the fighting, he was badly injured. A shell exploded, and he lost an eye.
Later Service and Family
Even after his injury, George Fead continued his service. In 1790, he went to Newfoundland again. In 1794, he fought in the Flanders Campaign under the command of the Duke of York.
In 1799, he moved to Jamaica and commanded the artillery there for many years. He was later made lieutenant-governor of Port Royal in 1810.
George Fead passed away in 1815 at his home in Woolwich Common. He was 86 years old and had served in the military for 58 years. He had nine sons, and many of them also joined the army. Several of his sons were sadly killed or died while serving abroad.
