Peter Bonnevaux facts for kids

Colonel Peter Bonnevaux was an important military leader from the 1700s. He was born around 1752 and passed away in 1797. He is best known for his very short time as the Military Governor of British Ceylon. This was a British colony that is now the country of Sri Lanka. He also held the role of the third General Officer Commanding, Ceylon.

Who Was Peter Bonnevaux?

Peter Bonnevaux was a high-ranking officer in the British Army. He served the Kingdom of Great Britain. His career was mainly with the East India Company's army. This company was a powerful British trading company. It had its own army to protect its interests in places like India.

Early Military Career

Bonnevaux started his military journey in 1768. He joined the 10th Madras Native Infantry as an Ensign. An Ensign was a junior officer rank. This unit was part of the Madras Army. The Madras Army was one of the three main armies of the East India Company in India. Over the years, he worked his way up the ranks. By 1794, he had become a Lieutenant Colonel. This shows he was a dedicated and successful soldier.

Governor of British Ceylon

On July 2, 1797, Peter Bonnevaux was given a very important job. He became the fourth Military Governor of British Ceylon. This meant he was in charge of the military and government of the colony. He also served as the General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. This made him the top military commander there.

However, his time as Governor was incredibly short. He served for only ten days. He passed away on July 12, 1797, in Colombo, British Ceylon. After his death, Pierre Frédéric de Meuron took over his roles.