Leonard Greenwell

Who was Leonard Greenwell?

Sir Leonard Greenwell, was a major-general.

Greenwell was born in 1781, the third son of Joshua Greenwell of Kibblesworth, of the family of Greenwell of Greenwell Ford, county Durham. He entered the army by purchase as ensign in the 45th foot in 1802, became lieutenant in 1803, and captain 1804. In 1806 he embarked with his regiment in the secret expedition under General Cranford, which ultimately was sent to La Plata as a reinforcement, and took part in the operations against Buenos Ayres. He landed with the regiment in Portugal on 1 August 1808, and, save on two occasions when absent on account of wounds, was present with it throughout the Peninsular campaigns from Roliça to Toulouse.

He was in temporary command of the regiment during Massena's retreat from Torres Vedras, at the battle of Fuentes d'Onoro, and at the final siege and fall of Badajoz; he became regimental major after Busaco, and received a brevet lieutenant-colonelcy after the battle of Salamanca; he conducted the light troops of Picton's division at Orthez, and succeeded to the command of his regiment on the fall of Colonel Forbes at Toulouse.