Samuel Hawker


Samuel Hawker first distinguished himself in the opening phase of the Napoleonic War, at the siege of Valenciennes where he commanded men in the storming of the breach. He was in temporary command of the 16th Light Dragoons when he was senior captain, from the end of 1793. He led a charge against a nine-gun battery under the direction of the Duke of York. On 10 May he again led a brave charge against guns at Tournay. His horse was killed under him and he was wounded severely in the chest. On his return to England King George III thanked Hawker personally.

He entered the 14th Light Dragoons on 1800 as third Lieutenant-Colonel. He assumed command of the 14th in 1803 and took them to Portugal for the Peninsula War. He was wounded at Talavera in 1809, along with his relative Captain Peter Hawker who was also an officer in the 14th. He retired from command of the regiment on 4 June 1811 when he was promoted to Major-General. The painting of Sir Samuel shows him in the 1830s as Colonel of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, wearing his Order of the Guelphs of Hanover.

1763 Born
1779 Cornet in 16th Light Dragoons, 15 May
1793 Active service in Netherlands
1794 Tournay, 10 May
1797 Major in Sussex Fencible Cavalry, 6 April
1799 Lt-Colonel Sussex Fencible Cavalry, 6th June
1800 Third Lt-Col in 14th Light Dragoons, 12 June
1803 Commanding Officer 14th LD
1808 Colonel and ADC to King George III, 25 April
1808 Portugal, Dec
1809 Wounded at Talavera, 28 July
1811 Promoted Major-General, 4 June
1811 Command of Eastern District, 25 Nov
1821 Promoted to Lieutenant-General, 19 July
1829 Captain of Yarmouth Castle, Isle of Wight, 22 July
1831 Appointed Colonel of 3rd Dragoon Guards, 22 April
1831 made KCH (Knight Commander of the Order of the Guelphs of Hanover)
1836 Advanced to GCH
1838 Promoted to General, 28 June
1838 Died on 27th December


Regimental Details | Commanding Officers


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