William Corbet

Who was William Corbet?

William Corbet was an Irish soldier. He was born in Ballythomas, County Cork. In 1798, as a member of the United Irishmen, he was expelled from Trinity College Dublin with Robert Emmet and others for treasonable activities, and went instead to Paris. In September of the same year, he joined a French military force under Napper Tandy with the rank of Captain and sailed from Dunkirk with arms and ammunition for Ireland. The expedition had to turn back following the defeat of General Humbert and arriving in Hamburg they were handed over to the British authorities and taken to Ireland, where they were imprisoned in Kilmainham Jail.

Corbet escaped in 1803 and returned to France. He was appointed professor of English at the military college of St Cyr. Later that year he became a Captain in the Irish Legion. Following the death of his brother Thomas in a duel with another officer, he was transferred to the 70th Regiment of the line, where he served in Massena's expedition to Portugal, and distinguished himself in the retreat from Torres Vedras and the battle of Sabugal.