Sir De Lacy Evans

Evans, Sir De Lacy, Lieutenant-General, K.C.B., was born at Moig, County of Limerick, in 1787. He entered the 22nd Regiment as ensign in 1807, and served three years in India; afterwards joining the 3rd Light Dragoons, he served with distinction in Spain and Portugal in the campaigns of 1812-'13-'14. He was especially commended by Wellington for his survey of the Pyrenees. Early in 1814, having become brevet Lieutenant-Colonel of the 5th West India Regiment, he was ordered to America. At the battle of Bladensburg, 24th August 1814, he had two horses shot under him. It was he who, at the head of 100 men, acting under orders of General Ross, forced the Capitol at Washington. He also took part in the attack on Baltimore. He was wounded before New Orleans, 8th January 1815, and was sent home. He recovered in time to join Wellington at Quatre Bras, where he had two horses killed under him, and remained on Wellington's staff during the occupation of France.

His next military employment was in 1835, when he commanded the British Legion of 10,000 men in Spain, in aid of Queen Isabella against Don Carlos. After his return in 1837 he entered Parliament as member for Westminster — a seat he held for almost thirty years, until he retired from political life in 1865. During the Crimean war he commanded the second division of the British army as Lieutenant-General, particularly distinguishing himself at the Alma. At Inkerman (5th November 1854) he rose from a sick bed to join his division, refusing to take the honours of the day from General Pennefather, who was in actual command under him. He received the thanks of the House of Commons on his return in February 1855. He was gazetted General in 1861, having already received the grand cross of the Bath and of the Legion of Honour. He resigned his seat in Parliament in 1865, on account of increasing infirmities, and died 9th January 1870, aged 82.

Sources

37a. Biographical Dictionary—American Biography: Francis S. Drake. Boston, 1876.