Major-General Sir Henry Torrens

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

Torrens, Sir Henry, Major-General, was born in Londonderry in 1779. He lost both his parents at an early age, was educated at a military academy in Dublin, and when fourteen entered the 52nd Regiment as an ensign. In 1796 he served under Abercrombie in the West Indies, where he displayed great bravery, was wounded, and was rewarded with a company. He served in Portugal in 1798; in Holland under the Duke of York in 1799 and afterwards in Nova Scotia, Egypt, and India. Returning home on sick leave from India in 1803, he married, at St. Helena, Miss Paton, daughter of the Governor. In 1805 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After seeing service at Buenos Ayres in 1807, he accompanied Sir Arthur Wellesley as military secretary to Portugal in 1808, and was present at the battles of Rolica and Vimiera. He attained the rank of major-general in 1814, and was gazetted K.C.B. About 1820 he was appointed adjutant-general, and the onerous task of revising the army regulations and introducing many improvements was imposed upon him. Sir Henry died suddenly at Welwyn, Hertfordshire, 23rd August 1828, aged 48.

Sources

7. Annual Register. London, 1756-1877.

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