Sir John Slade, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir John Slade, 1st Baronet
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|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Black Jack Slade |
| Born | 31 December 1762 Maunsel House, Somerset, England |
| Died | 13 August 1859 (aged 96) Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, United Kingdom |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Cavalry |
| Years of service | 1780–1859 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | Army Gold Medal, Royal Guelphic Order, 1835 |
| Other work | Baronet, 1831 |
General Sir John "Black Jack" Slade, 1st Baronet (born 31 December 1762, died 13 August 1859) was a high-ranking officer in the British Army. He served during the Peninsular War, a big conflict in Europe. Even though he reached a top rank, some people had different opinions about his skills as a cavalry general.
Sir John Slade received important awards like the Army Gold Medal. He was also thanked by the British Parliament three times. His family continued to serve, with his son Sir Adolphus Slade and grandson Sir Edmond Slade both becoming admirals in the navy.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
John Slade was born at Maunsel House in Somerset, England. His father, also named John Slade, worked for the government. Young John started his military career quite early. He joined the 10th Dragoons as a cornet in 1780, when he was just 17.
He quickly moved up through the ranks. He became a lieutenant in 1783 and a captain in 1787. By 1795, he was a lieutenant colonel. In 1798, he moved to the 1st Dragoons. He even became an equerry (a special attendant) to Prince Ernest Augustus in 1800. By 1802, he was a colonel in the army. In 1804, he became a brigadier.
It is said that John Slade once danced with Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France. She even gave him a special snuff box as a gift!
Fighting in the Peninsular War
In October 1808, Slade was sent to Corunna in Spain. He was in charge of a hussar (light cavalry) unit. He led the 10th Hussars in a successful cavalry attack at Sahagún in December. However, his unit arrived late to the main fight. This was because Slade gave a very long speech before the battle.
During this time, Slade made an enemy of Lord Paget, who led all the cavalry. Lord Paget often spoke badly about Slade. Slade also took part in the difficult retreat with General John Moore. He even volunteered to fight at the Battle of Corunna after his cavalry had left.
After six months back in England, Slade returned to the Peninsula in 1809. He commanded a group of dragoons (another type of cavalry) for four years. He fought in important battles like Busaco and Fuentes de Oñoro. He also led the cavalry when the French general André Masséna retreated from Portugal in 1811. Wellington, the main British commander, spoke well of him in a report.
Challenges in Command
On 11 June 1812, Slade faced a difficult cavalry battle at Maguilla in Spain. He was leading 700 dragoons against a similar number of French soldiers. At first, the British had the upper hand. But they chased the French too far and lost their formation. The French had a hidden reserve, and Slade's unit became disorganized. They were chased for miles and lost over 100 prisoners.
Wellington and others felt Slade was to blame for this defeat. Wellington wrote that his cavalry officers sometimes charged without thinking. He felt they didn't plan their moves or keep a reserve ready. Some officers under Slade also felt he struggled as a cavalry leader. They believed he sometimes didn't understand orders or lacked quick thinking.
Despite these challenges, Slade remained in command until mid-1813. Some historians believe Wellington found it hard to remove senior officers, even if they faced difficulties.
Later Years and Achievements
In May 1813, Slade's cavalry unit was given to another general. Slade then returned home and worked in Ireland for a year. He received an Army Gold Medal for his service at Corunna and Fuentes d'Oñoro. He continued to be promoted, becoming a major general in 1809, a lieutenant general in 1814, and a full general in 1837.
In 1831, he was given command of the 5th Dragoon Guards. On 30 September 1831, he was made a baronet, which is a special title of honour. In 1835, he received the GCH award. He was also thanked by Parliament three times for his service.
Sir John Slade passed away on 13 August 1859, at his home in Somerset. He was one of the oldest living members of the army at the time.
His Family's Legacy
Sir John Slade married twice. His first wife was Anna Eliza Dawson. They had seven sons and two daughters. Six of their sons joined the military, showing a strong family tradition of service.
One of his sons, Sir Adolphus Slade, became an admiral. Another son, Frederick William Slade, became the 2nd Baronet after his father.
Sir John's second wife was Matilda Ellen Dawson, his first wife's sister. They had four more sons and two more daughters. One of these sons, George FitzClarence Slade, was the father of Admiral Sir Edmond Slade. This means Sir John Slade had both a son and a grandson who became admirals, continuing his family's military legacy.
In Books and Art
The National Portrait Gallery believes that one of its old military pictures might be of Sir John Slade. He also appears as a general in some of the historical novels written by Allan Mallinson.
