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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 |
Regimental Details | Commanding Officers
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