John Gaspard Le Marchant

Le Marchant was a renowned cavalry leader of the Peninsula war. He was a somewhat headstrong and courageous fighter, who as a Major-General, at the age of 46 killed 6 of the enemy before being shot in the spine and killed at the battle of Salamanca. He was a keen advocate of improving the cavalry sword and of training men how to use it. He wrote many instruction manuals, the best known being 'Cavalry Sword Exercises'. He is also well known for being the founder of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. His family came from Guernsey and his father was a former officer of the 7th Dragoons. He was considered a bad pupil at school and was often in trouble with teachers and his parents. He was involved in duels while he was a young officer and in Dublin he lost 250 pounds in a gambling house. He was fond of drawing and made several sketches in Spain. His marriage to Mary Carey produced 4 sons and 6 daughters, although she died in childbirth. His enthusiasm for officer training was prompted by his experiences in the shambles of the 1793 Flanders campaign. France already had Saint-Cyr where their officers were trained. Le Marchant was introduced to General Francois Jarry who had taught at Frederick the Great's Kriegschule. Jarry was then employed to teach young officers at a house in High Wycombe. The level of education had to be lowered to cope with a general lack of intelligence, and Le Marchant's proposals for officer training were put to the Duke of York in 1799. In 1801 Parliament voted a grant of 30,000 pounds for a Royal Military College. The senior part was at High Wycombe and the junior section in Great Marlow. Later the two parts were joined and moved to Sandhurst in Surrey. The estate where the Academy became established was bought by the government for 8,460 pounds, purchased from none other than the Prime Minister William Pitt who had recently purchased it himself... for 2,600 pounds. Le Marchant was the Lieutenant-Governor from 1801 until 1811. 1766 born in Amiens, Feb 9th. 1781 Ensign in the Wiltshire Militia 1783 Ensign in 1st Foot. Feb 18th 1787 Cornet in 6th Inniskilling Dragoons. May 30th 1789 Lieutenant in 2nd Dragoon Guards. Nov 18th 1791 Captain 2nd DG. Dec 31st 1793 Served in Flanders as brigade major 1795 Major in 16th Light Dragoons. Mar 1st 1797 Lieutenant-Colonel in Hompesch's Mounted Riflemen 1797 29th Light Dragoons 1797 Commanding Officer of 7th Light Dragoons. June 1st 1789 Married Mary Carey 1799 2nd Dragoon Guards. July 19th 1801 Founding of Royal Military College 1805 Colonel. Oct 30th 1810 Joined the army in the Peninsula 1811 Major-General. June 4th 1812 Battle of Villagarcia. April 11th 1812 Led a cavalry charge at Llerena. April 19th 1812 Salamanca, 22nd July. Mortally wounded.

Regimental details | Commanding Officers

Armed Forces | Art and Culture | Articles | Biographies | Colonies | Discussion | Glossary | Home | Library | Links | Map Room | Sources and Media | Science and Technology | Search | Student Zone | Timelines | TV & Film | Wargames