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Lieutenant-Colonel William Newton assumed command of the 10th Light Dragoons on 10 May 1786. He joined the 10th Dragoons in 1761 as a cornet and remained with the regiment for 33 years until he relinquished command while they was stationed at Hounslow in 1794. There is little information on Newton in the regimental history but the Georgian papers in the Royal Collection have a written request from Newton in 1793 for an increase in the allowance of oats. The Prince of Wales was anxious to have this matter attended to. It was during his period of command that the French Revolution occurred and the strength of the regiment was increased dramatically in 1793, the officer numbers rising from 17 to 34.
The portrait is one of several profile paintings of officers of the 10th Light Dragoons c1794, also in the Royal Collection. The officers are not named but William Newton was overweight and this is the only portrait that depicts a corpulent officer. It also matches the caricature shown below which was drawn c1790, and the subject named as Colonel Newton. |
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Regimental Details | Commanding Officers
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