Robert Sloper

Robert Sloper was born on 8 May 1729 and commissioned into the 10th Dragoons. He commanded the King's Dragoon Guards through the Seven Years War in Germany, taking over command on 13 Feb 1759. He kept the regiment in a high state of efficiency and was praised by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick and other senior Generals. Soon after taking command he made it clear that he was not satisfied with the speed at which the regiment turned out and issued an angry order to the officers that they were to go round to inspect the men’s tents to ensure that all their accoutrements were properly placed and to hand. He held the post of CO of the KDG until 1778 but during that time he was appointed Governor of Hurst Castle in Hampshire and promoted to major-general, so actual command after the regiment’s service in Flanders in 1763 was probably delegated to the second in command.
He lived in West Woodhay House, Berkshire with his wife Jane Willis with whom he had 6 sons and 4 daughters. One daughter, Marion, married Bernard Hamilton Conran, grandfather of Terence Conran. General Sir Robert Sloper KB died on 8 Aug 1802. He is buried under the main aisle in St Martin’s Church, East Woodhay in Hampshire. There is a memorial plaque in St Mary’s Church, Hartley Wintney. The portrait is a miniature painted by Richard Cosway c1785.
1729 Born 8 May in Wiltshire
1750 June. Captain in 10th Dragoons
1755 Dec. Major in 10th Dragoons
1759 Feb. Lieut-Col CO of 1st Dragoon Guards, until 1778
1767 Governor of Hurst Castle, Hants
1771 Major General
1778 Colonel of 14th Light Dragoons, 2 April.
1780 2nd Mysore War
1782 Lieutenant-General, 30 Nov.
1784 Acting Commander-in-Chief in Madras
1785 Commander-in-Chief, India, until 1786
1788 KB on 6 June.
1788 Governor of Duncannon Fort, Co Wexford
1789 3rd Mysore War
1796 General. 3 May.
1797 Colonel 4th Dragoons, 1 June.
1802 Died 8 August.

Regimental Details | Commanding Officers