Robert Gardiner (British Army officer)

General Sir Robert Gardiner GCB GCH (2 May 1781 - 26 June 1864) was Master Gunner, St James's Park, the most senior Ceremonial Post in the Royal Artillery after the Sovereign.

Military career
Educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Gardiner was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1797.

He joined the Duke of Wellington's Army in 1812 and commanded a Field Battery at the Battle of Salamanca, the Capture of Madrid and the Siege of Burgos.

In 1813 he took command of E Troop Royal Horse Artillery and fought at the Battle of Vitoria, the Battle of Orthez and the Battle of Toulouse.

Then in 1815 his troop helped to restore order during the Corn Law Riots in London: later that year he went to the Southern Netherlands where he commanded his troop at the Battle of Waterloo.

He became Principal Equerry to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld in 1816 and remained in that role until 1831. He held the position of Master Gunner, St James's Park from 1840.

He was then appointed Governor of Gibraltar in 1848.

Family
In 1816 he married Caroline Mary McLeod.