James Simpson (British Army officer)

Sir James Simpson
Born	1792 Badminton House, Gloucestershire
Died	18 April 1868 (aged 75–76) Crimea, Russian Empire
Buried at	Badminton, Gloucestershire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1811–1855
Rank	General
Commands held	British Troops in the Crimea South-West District 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	Peninsular War Crimean War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France) Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy (Sardinia) Order of the Medjidie, First Class (Ottoman Empire)

General Sir James Simpson GCB (1792 – 18 April 1868) was a British Army officer of the 19th century. He commanded the British troops in the Crimea from June to November 1855, following the death of Field Marshal Lord Raglan.

Military career

Educated at the University of Edinburgh, Simpson was commissioned into the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards on 3 April 1811.^[1] He served with his regiment during the Peninsular War and the Waterloo Campaign, and then commanded the 29th Regiment of Foot in Mauritius and Bengal.^[1]

In 1839 Simpson married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Dundas, 1st Baronet of Beechwood. She died in 1840.^[1] Promoted to major general on 11 November 1851, he became General Officer Commanding the South-West District that same month.^[1]

In February 1855 he was sent out to the Crimea to act as chief of staff to the army commander Lord Raglan. Raglan died on 28 June, and Simpson reluctantly took command of the army.^[1] He resigned on 10 November, and was succeeded by Sir William Codrington.^[1]

References