John Townsend

John Townsend was from Ireland, born on 11 June 1786. He entered the army as a cornet in the 14th Light Dragoons on 24 June 1805. He was a lieutenant within a year and commanded a troop in 1811. He served in many battles and skirmishes in the Peninsula War from 1808, and was taken prisoner near Pau on 8 Mar 1814. He went with the 14th to America in 1814 and was at the attack on New Orleans on 8 Jan 1815. He was a major in 1821 and took over command of the 14th on 16 April 1829. The regiment went to India in 1841 and he commanded them there until he returned home in 1845. On 23 Nov 1841 he was appointed ADC to Queen Victoria with the rank of Colonel. He died soon after his return from India, on 22 April 1845, at Castle Townsend in Cork, Ireland. He had served for nearly 40 years in the 14th Light Dragoons.

Regimental Details | Commanding Officers