James Jackson (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Jackson
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General Jackson's visiting card
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| Born | 1790 |
| Died | 31 December 1871 |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Peninsular War Battle of Waterloo |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
General Sir James Vaughan Jackson (1790 – 31 December 1871) was an important Irish officer. He served in the British Army for many years. He fought in major wars and earned high honors.
Contents
A Young Soldier's Start
James Jackson was born in 1790. He was the third son of Colonel George Jackson, a politician from County Mayo, Ireland.
James joined the British Army as an ensign. An ensign was a very junior officer. He started his military journey in the 83rd Foot regiment.
Fighting in the Peninsular War
In 1809, James Jackson was sent to fight in the Peninsular War. This was a big war in Spain and Portugal. He took part in many important battles.
He earned a special War Medal with nine clasps. Each clasp showed he fought in another major battle. These battles included:
- Battle of Bussaco in September 1810
- Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in May 1811
- Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812
- Siege of Badajoz in March 1812
- Battle of Salamanca in July 1812
- Battle of Vitoria in June 1813
- Battle of the Pyrenees in July 1813
- Battle of Nivelle in November 1813
- Battle of the Nive in December 1813
Waterloo and Beyond
After the Peninsular War, James Jackson fought in the famous Battle of Waterloo. This battle happened in 1815. It was a very important moment in history.
From 1819 to 1826, he served in faraway places. He spent time in India and Arabia.
Rising Through the Ranks
James Jackson continued to rise in the army. In 1827, he became a Major in the 6th Dragoon Guards. A Major is a higher-ranking officer.
Later, in 1850, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. This was another important step up.
From 1854 to 1859, he held a very big job. He was the Commander-in-Chief in the Cape of Good Hope. This meant he was in charge of all the army forces there.
In 1856, he became the Colonel of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons. A Colonel is a senior officer who leads a regiment. He later moved to lead the 6th Dragoon Guards in 1860. Then, in 1868, he led the 1st Dragoon Guards. He held this position until he died.
On February 6, 1865, James Jackson reached the highest rank. He was promoted to full General. This was a huge achievement.
Awards and Honors
General Jackson received several important awards for his service:
General Sir James Vaughan Jackson passed away on December 31, 1871. He died in Manchester, England.
