Neil Douglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Neil Douglas
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Sir Neil Douglas
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| Born | 1779 Glasgow |
| Died | 1 September 1853 |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands held | Commander-in-Chief, Scotland |
| Battles/wars | Napoleonic Wars |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order |
Sir Neil Douglas (born 1779, died 1853) was a brave officer in the British Army. He is famous for fighting in the important Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Later in his life, he became the top army leader in Scotland.
Contents
Sir Neil Douglas: A Brave Soldier
Early Life and Army Start
Neil Douglas was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1779. He was the fifth son of John Douglas, a merchant. His family had a long history, connected to the Earls of Angus.
Sir Neil started his army career on January 28, 1801. He joined the 95th Regiment of Foot as a Second Lieutenant. This was his first step into military service.
Fighting in Big Wars
In 1804, Neil Douglas became a Captain in the 79th Regiment of Foot. He took part in many important battles during the Napoleonic Wars. These were big conflicts across Europe.
He fought in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1807. He also saw action at the Battle of Corunna in 1809. In 1810, he was at the Battle of Bussaco. During this battle, he was badly hurt with seven bayonet wounds. Amazingly, he survived.
In 1813, he took charge of his entire regiment. This was a big responsibility for him. He continued to fight bravely. At the Battle of the Pyrenees, his horse was shot from under him.
He also fought in the Battle of Nivelle and the Battle of the Nive in 1813. In 1814, he was part of the Battle of Toulouse. He became a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1812.
The Battle of Waterloo
One of his most famous moments was in June 1815. He led his regiment at the Battle of Quatre Bras. Soon after, he fought in the legendary Battle of Waterloo. This battle was a major event during the "Hundred Days" period. It was a decisive victory for the British and their allies.
Leading the Army in Scotland
After his many years of fighting, Sir Neil Douglas took on new roles. From 1842 to 1847, he was the Commander-in-Chief, Scotland. This meant he was the highest-ranking army officer in Scotland. He also served as the Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
Family Life
In 1816, Sir Neil Douglas married Barbara Robertson. Her father, George Robertson, was a banker from Greenock. They had a son named John Douglas.
Their son, John Douglas, also became a famous army officer. He followed in his father's footsteps. He too became the Commander-in-Chief, Scotland later in his life.
Sir Neil Douglas passed away on September 1, 1853. He died while visiting Brussels.
