William Henry Elliott

Who was William Henry Elliott?

Sir William Henry Elliott, was a British general.

Elliott was the son of Captain John Elliott, R.N., one of the comrades of Captain Cook in his second and third voyages. He entered the army as an ensign in the 51st King's Own light infantry on 6 December 1809. In January 1811 the 5lst joined Lord Wellington's army while encamped within the lines of Torres Vedras, and Elliott's first battle was Fuentes de Onoro. He was present at the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo and of Badajoz, and at the battle of Salamanca, and was promoted lieutenant on 13 August 1812. During the retreat from Burgos he acted as aide-de-camp to Colonel Mitchell, commanding the first brigade of the seventh division, and was wounded in conveying despatches under fire.

In June 1813 he was appointed acting aide-de-camp to Major-general Inglis, and served with him at the Battle of the Pyrenees, when he was again wounded, and at the Nivelle and Orthes. He was then appointed brigade-major to the first brigade, seventh division, in which capacity he served until the end of the war. Elliott was next present with the 51st at the Battle of Waterloo, and he had charge of the scaling-ladders at the siege of Cambrai. He was promoted captain on 9 November 1820. From 1821 to 1834 the 51st was stationed in the Ionian Islands, and Elliott, who never left his regiment, was promoted major on 12 July 1831. On 27 June 1838 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and he commanded the 51st in Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and at Bangalore, until 1852. In that year his regiment was ordered for service in the Second Burmese war, and Elliott was detailed to command the Madras brigade in the first campaign.