General Sir Edward Selby Smyth KCMG

Sir Edward was born on 31st March 1819 in Belfast. He was commissioned into the 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment as an ensign by purchase in 1841, on 26th Jan. Straight away he was shipped out to India and spent 5 years there, serving in the Southern Concan and Sawant Warree country from 1844-5 and was involved in several battles. In 1846 he returned to England as adjutant. Two year later he was a captain and married Lucy Sophia Julia Campbell.
He fought in the Kaffir War of 1851-2 commanding a column in action at Fish River Bush, and another column at the battle of Berea. He stayed in South Africa to be Deputy Assistant QMG Cape of Good Hope from 1853-5, and Deputy QMG from 1855-61.
He served in Ireland in 1861 as Inspector-General of Militia and Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, and was responsible for the suppression of the Fenian Rising for which he received the thanks of the Irish parliament in 1867. Following this he went to Mauritius to command troops there, and was sworn in twice as acting Governor in 1870 and 1871.
In Canada he was appointed the first General Officer commanding the Militia in 1874. He led a pioneering expedition across the North West Territory, the Rocky Mountains and British Columbia. He also prevented a riot in Montreal for which he was publicly thanked by the Governor-General of Canada. He left Canada in 1880.
He was appointed Colonel of the 72nd Regiment on 11th March 1881 just before it was linked with the 78th to become the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. He held the post until the 9th Aug 1893 when he was appointed Colonel of the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. He remained in that command until his death on 22nd Sep 1896.

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