Ralph Dundas

General Ralph Dundas (died 7 February 1814) was an officer of the British Army.

Biography

Ralph Dundas was the son of John Dundas of Manour and Anne Murray, daughter of John Murray of Polmaise.

He was appointed cornet in the 4th Regiment of Dragoons in 1755, and in February 1762 he obtained the command of a troop in the 11th Regiment of Dragoons,[1] then serving in Germany under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. His regiment returned to England in the following year; in 1770 he was appointed to the majority, and in 1775 to the lieutenant-colonelcy of that distinguished corps.[2] His zealous attention to all his duties, as commanding officer of the 11th Dragoons, was rewarded in 1781 with the rank of colonel; in 1790, with that of major-general;[3] He was sent by Horse Guards to command the Army Corps of the Irish Midlands with the rank of lieutenant-general based at Castle Martin, County Kildare. During May 1798 he was involved in many rebel encounters around Kilcullen, during the United Irishmen's rebellion when as many as 1,000 of the enemy were under arms. There were beaten at Turnpike Hill, but the British, and Dundas in particular had a nasty initial shock on 23 May at Ballymore.

Ralph Dundas was appointed to replace Edward Mansel as commanding officer of The Blues and The Royals, encamped west of Tournai. The French under Pichegru advanced with 30,000 men in three columns in thick mud, leaving his right flank unprotected along the Lille-Tournai Road. the Duke of York and General Harcourt saw an opportunity to unleash the Heavy Brigade to the south. The French infantry settled on the village of Willems, and although the French cavalry tried to go to their aid, they were cut off. British artillery bombarded the small French squares, which broke. The British cavalry pursued them over the boggy plain killing 2000 French, taking 400 prisoners, and 14 guns. The British casualties were very light. Early in the battle Dundas ordered a detachment to capture artillery at the village of Basisieux. A fleeing French General tried to get away, was confronted and run through by Pvt Joseph White, to great acclaim.[4]

On 30 July 1794 with the colonelcy of the 8th, or the King's Regiment of Foot. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general in 1797,[5] and to that of general in 1802:[6] he was also rewarded with the government of Duncannon Fort.[7] He died on 7 February 1814.

His son, Ralph Peter Dundas was Commissioner of Excise at Dublin, and died there in 1828.

References

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 10190. p. 2. 9–13 March 1762.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 11603. p. 1. 7–10 October 1775.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 13196. p. 258. 27 April–1 May 1790.
  4. ↑ B White-Spunner, "Horse Guards", (Macmillan 2006), p.271
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 13976. p. 106. 31 January–4 February 1797.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 15478. p. 466. 8–11 May 1802.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 15509. p. 898. 14–28 August 1802.

Bibliography


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