Samuel Ford Whittingham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Samuel Ford Whittingham
Sir Samuel Ford Whittingham
Born	29 January 1772 Bristol
Died	19 January 1841 Madras Presidency, British India
Buried	Fort George
Allegiance	United Kingdom Spain
Service/branch	British Army Spanish Army
Years of service	1803–1841
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Commands held	Madras Army
Battles/wars	Napoleonic Wars
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order

Sir Samuel Ford Whittingham (born January 29, 1772 – died January 19, 1841) was a brave soldier. He was a Lieutenant General in both the British and Spanish armies. He fought during the Napoleonic Wars. After these wars, he mainly served with the British Army in India. His friends often called him "Samford."

Early Life and Military Start

Samuel Ford Whittingham was born in Bristol on January 29, 1772. He was the older son of William Whittingham. Samuel was expected to study law. However, he really wanted to be a soldier.

After his father passed away in 1801, Samuel was free to follow his dream. He joined the British Army as an ensign in 1803. Soon after, he became a lieutenant. He then joined the 1st Life Guards regiment.

Samuel went to a military college to learn more. In 1804, he met William Pitt the Younger, who was the Prime Minister. Pitt sent Samuel on a secret mission to Spain. This was because Samuel knew the Spanish language well.

Adventures in South America

In 1806, Whittingham sailed to South America. He was part of a force heading to Lima. But their plans changed. They ended up in Montevideo. This city had just been captured by British forces.

He joined General John Whitelocke as an aide. Whittingham took part in a difficult attack on Buenos Aires. This attack did not go well for the British. He later gave evidence at Whitelocke's trial in London.

Fighting in Spain

After South America, Whittingham went to Sicily. But he soon got permission to join the Spanish army. He wanted to help them fight the French. This was during the Peninsula War.

He fought with the Spanish general Don Xavier Castaños. Whittingham was at the winning battle of Baylen in July 1808. For his bravery, he became a colonel in the Spanish cavalry.

In 1809, he joined another Spanish army group. He fought bravely in several cavalry battles. He was promoted to brigadier-general in the Spanish army. He also fought at the battle of Medellin. Here, he helped regroup the Spanish cavalry after a defeat.

Whittingham kept the British minister in Spain updated. He reported on the Spanish army's actions.

Wounded at Talavera

Before Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) moved into Spain, Whittingham joined the British. He helped them talk with the Spanish general Cuesta.

On July 28, 1809, Whittingham was badly hurt. This happened at the battle of Talavera. He was bringing up Spanish soldiers to attack. Wellesley mentioned his bravery in his report.

While recovering, he translated a book on cavalry movements into Spanish. He was promoted to major-general in the Spanish army.

Leading Spanish Troops

Whittingham later commanded Spanish cavalry. He helped train them like the British army. He fought at the battle of Barrosa in 1811. He helped stop a French attack there.

In 1812, Whittingham went to Palma, Majorca. He created a strong cavalry group of two thousand soldiers. He also started a college to train officers.

His troops later joined British forces on the eastern coast of Spain. In March 1813, he was made inspector-general of his division's cavalry and infantry. He was wounded again in the face during the battle of Concentayña. He also fought in the winning battle of Castalla.

When the British besieged Tarragona, Whittingham's division was on the left. He suggested a plan to his commander, Sir John Murray. But Murray did not follow it. The siege was then lifted. Whittingham helped cover the army's retreat.

Return to England and Later Service

In 1814, Whittingham escorted King Ferdinand VII to Madrid. The king gave him a special gift. He also promoted him to lieutenant-general in the Spanish army.

Wellington praised Whittingham's service. He said Whittingham had been "most zealously and gallantly" serving. Whittingham was then promoted to colonel in the British army. He also became an aide-de-camp to the prince regent.

In 1815, he was made a Knight Commander of the order of the Bath. He was also knighted. When Napoleon escaped from Elba, King Ferdinand asked Whittingham to return to Spain. The king gave him the grand cross of the order of San Fernando.

He later became the Lieutenant-governor of Dominica in 1819. The people of Dominica gave him a special sword. He then became quartermaster-general of the king's troops in India in 1821.

Service in India

Whittingham arrived in Calcutta in 1822. He helped prepare for an expedition to Ava. He was also involved in the Barrackpur Mutiny in 1824.

In 1825, he was promoted to major-general. He took part in the siege of Bhartpur in 1826. He was slightly wounded but was present when the city was captured. For his service, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

He commanded the Cawnpore Division in 1827. Later, he commanded the Mirat Command. In 1833, his command ended. He then worked as a military secretary for Lord William Bentinck. He returned to England with Bentinck in 1835.

In 1836, Whittingham was given command of forces in the Windward and Leeward Islands in the West Indies. He sailed to Barbados. In 1839, he took command of the Madras Army in India. He arrived in Madras in August 1840.

Sir Samuel Ford Whittingham died suddenly in Madras on January 19, 1841. He was buried with military honors at Fort George.

Writings

Whittingham also wrote several books about military tactics:

• Primera Parte de la Táctica de la Caballeria Inglesa traducida (1811)
• A System of Manœuvres in Two Lines (1815)
• A System of Cavalry Manœuvres in Line

He also wrote other papers that were not published.

Family Life

In January 1810, Whittingham married Donna Magdalena in Gibraltar. She was the daughter of Don Pedro de Creus y Ximenes. They had many children together. Several of their sons also joined the army.