Edward Blakeney

Field Marshal Sir Edward Blakeney PC (Ire) GCB GCH (26 March 1778 – 2 August 1868) was a British Army Field Marshal.

Background
Born at Newcastle upon Tyne, Blakeney, was the fourth son of Colonel William Blakeney, who sat in the Parliament of Ireland, and his wife Sarah née Shields. He entered the British Army in 1794 and was commissioned as a cornet in the 8th Light Dragoons.

Early years
Accompanying the expedition under Major-General White to the West Indies as captain in the 99th Regiment of Foot, he was present at the capture of Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo in 1796; in the course of this service he was three times taken prisoner by privateers and suffered severe hardships. In 1798, he helped in the evacuation of Santo Domingo. A year later, he went with the expedition to Holland, and was present in the actions of 10 and 19 September, and also in those of 2 and 6 October. In 1807 he sailed with the 7th Regiment of Foot, to the Baltic, joined Lord Cathcart's expedition, and took part in the capture of the Danish fleet and the surrender of Copenhagen. He was present at the taking of Martinique in 1809.

Peninsular War
Blakeney served during the campaigns of the Peninsular War in the years 1811–1814 and otained the command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Foot as lieutenant-colonel on 20 June 1811. He proceeded to Lisbon and fought in the Battle of Bussaco and the Battle of Albuera (where he was severely wounded through the thigh), the action at Aldea de Ponte, the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz (where he was severely wounded through the arm in the assault), battles of Vitoria, Pampeluna and Pyrenees. In November 1813, he led his battalion in the Battle of Nivelle. He joined the army in Belgium in 1815, and was present at the capture of Paris. For those and other services he received the Army Gold Medal and a silver war medal, and was made a knight of the Tower and Sword of Portugal in 1812. He was gazetted a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 2 January 1815.

Later years
Having retained the command of his battalion until 2 June 1825, the first brigade of the army sent to Portugal was then entrusted to his charge. In 1828, he arrived in Ireland and on 20 September 1832 he received the colonelcy of his old regiment, the 7th Foot. Four years later, he succeeded Sir Hussey Vivian, Bt as the Commander-in-Chief, Ireland and on those occasion was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland on 7 May 1836. He was advanced to a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath on 7 May 1849. His general's commission dates from 20 June 1854 and in December, he was exchanged as colonel of the 1st Foot, which appointment he retained to his death in 1865. Blakeney resigned his position as commander in 1855 and returned to England. He became lieutenant-governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea on 6 February, and on 25 September 1856 the Governor of that establishment. A field-marshalship was conferred on him 9 November 1862 and was also made colonel-in-chief of the Rifle Brigade, 28 August 1865.

Personal life
In 1814, he married Maria, a daughter of Colonel Gardiner of the East India Company's service. She died at Chelsea Hospital in 1866, aged 76. Blakeney survived her by two years, dying in the same hospital on 2 August 1868, and was buried at Twickenham six days later. They had no children.