William Gardiner (British Army officer)

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Lieutenant General William Neville Gardiner (23 April 1748 – 7 February 1806) was a British soldier in the American Revolution and later as a diplomat. He served as minister plenipotentiary at Brussels 1791, at Warsaw 1793, and as commander in chief of the forces at Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (1805-1806).

Career[]

He fought in the American Revolution in the 45th Regiment of Foot. He was in the Boston campaign, serving as the aide-de-camp to Sir William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe. While in the 10th Regiment of Foot, Gardiner fought in Philadelphia campaign (1777) and wounded in the Battle of Monmouth.[1] Howe said of him that "Capt. Gardiner was always the first in the field and the last to leave it."[2]

Gardiner commanded the 88th Regiment of foot in 1782 and then the following year became colonel in the 99th Regiment of Foot (Jamaica Regiment).[3]

In 1789, Gardiner was sent to the Austrian Netherlands during the revolution. He reported on the condition of Fortress of Luxembourg. He was stationed at Brussels until 1792.[3]

In 1792, he became minister plenipotentiary to Warsaw (1792). He was there during fall of Kosciusko, the Battle of Praga, where he had to maintain 300 people at the embassy (1794).[3]

Gardiner stood for the Irish House of Commons at Clogher, but was declared not duly elected on 3 February 1800. He was then returned for Thomastown on the interest of Lord Clifden, and was sworn on 8 May 1800. His service as a Member of Parliament was brief, as the last meeting of the Parliament of Ireland before the Union was on 2 August that year.[4] He held the sinecure post of Governor of Kinsale from 1801[5] until his death.[6]

In Dublin, commander in chief, Lord Charles Cornwallis described him "like Lake in manner, but graver." He commanded the 60th Regiment of Foot during the British anti-invasion preparations of 1803–05.[7]

In 1805, Gardiner was appointed commander-in-chief in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.[3] He died in Halifax, Nova Scotia the following year and is buried in the crypt of St. Paul's Church (Halifax).[8]

Family[]

He was the son of Charles Gardiner d. 1769 and brother of Luke Gardiner, 1st Viscount Mountjoy (d. 1798). He married the youngest daughter of Sir Richard Wrottesley, 7th Baronet.[3]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ p. 44
  2. ^ History of St. Paul's Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia. 1949. p. 291
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1889). "Gardiner, William (1748-1806)" . Dictionary of National Biography. 20. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  4. ^ E. M. Johnston-Liik, History of the Irish Parliament 1692–1800 (2002) vol. IV, p. 263.
  5. ^ "No. 15398". The London Gazette. 18–22 August 1801. p. 1016.
  6. ^ "No. 15915". The London Gazette. 3–6 May 1806. p. 557.
  7. ^ Gardiner - Obituary, Gentleman's Magazine. 1806.
  8. ^ Harris, V, The Church of St Paul, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1749-1949 (Toronto: 1949), p. 288, 291
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