General Henry Beauchamp Lygon, 4th Earl Beauchamp

Henry was born on 5 Jan 1784, the third son of William Lygon, 1st Earl Beauchamp. He inherited the earldom in 1853 following the death of his two elder brothers William and John. On 8 July 1824 he married Lady Susan Eliot daughter of the Earl of St Germans. They had three daughters and three sons; one daughter died in infancy and the eldest son died at the age of 6.
The Hon Henry Beauchamp was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He entered the army on 9 July 1803 as a cornet in the 13th light Dragoons. He was a lieutenant on 24 May 1804, and transferred to the 16th LD as a captain. He fought throughout the Peninsular War from 1809 to 1814, wounded at Bussaco. He then served as a major in the 1st Life Guards in 1821. His career in the army progressed so that he reached major-general in 1837, lieutenant-general in 1846 and general in 1853. He was Colonel of the 10th Hussars from 23 June 1843 to 17 April 1863 and Colonel of the 2nd Life Guards briefly from 18 April 1863 until his death in September that year. His political career was: MP for Worcestershire from 1816 to 1831, and for Worcestershire West from 1832 to 1853. In that year he sat in the House of Lords as the Right Honourable the 4th Earl Beauchamp. He died on 8 Sep 1863. The portrait shows him in the uniform of the 10th Hussars c1845.

Regimental Details | Colonels