Thomas Huxley (British Army officer)

Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Huxley (died 4 November 1826, Halifax) was a British Army officer who fought in the Second Carib War, survived the ship wreck of HMS Dromedary; and took part in the British attack on Danish West Indies. When he was part of the 70th Regiment, he married Jessie Scott, the niece of Sir Walter Scott. He later became the Military Secretary to Lord Dalhousie, the Governor General of British North America. He is buried in the Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia).

Career
Huxley was appointed captain in 1793 and then two years later became captain in the 2nd West India Regiment (Myer's Regiment of Foot from 1795–1802). The West India Regiments were made up of former slaves, recently freed by a British act of parliament. Huxley served under the command of Hugh Lyle Carmichael (1797). He was stationed at Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. His regiment fought in the Second Carib War. In the battle of 8 January 1796, 75% of unit (152 men) were killed.

He was then appointed to the 87th Regiment for the eight years (1799–1808). In 1800, en route to Trinidad, Huxley survived being shipwrecked aboard HMS Dromedary on Parasol Rocks. 500 passengers survived on the rocks for over 30 hours before being rescued. He was then part of the British attack on the Danish West Indies, defeating Saint Martin by taking Fort Chesterfield and Fort Amsterdam (Sint Maarten).

He became Brevet-Major in 1802. He later transferring to the 4th West India Regiment (1808–1810).

Finally Huxley joined the 70th Regiment. On 5 November 1819 in Kingston, Ontario, he married Jessie Scott, niece of Sir Walter Scott (daughter of Walter's younger brother Thomas Scott, b. 1774), paymaster of the regiment. Sir Walter Scott described Huxley as "a very gentleman-like man." He became Lt Col. in 1826 and then Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Huxley who was Military Secretary to Lord Dalhousie, the Governor General of Canada.

He later moved to Halifax and became head of the militia. He committed suicide on 4th November 1826 and was buried in the Old Burying Ground.