Charles van Straubenzee

Sir Charles van Straubenzee
Born	17 February 1812 Malta
Died	10 August 1892 Bath, Somerset
Buried at	Bath, Somerset
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	General
Commands held	3rd Bn the Buffs 1st Brigade of the Light Division Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong Bombay Army Malta
Battles/wars	Gwalior Campaign Crimean War Second Opium War
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

General Sir Charles Thomas van Straubenzee GCB (17 February 1812 - 10 August 1892) was Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong and Governor of Malta.

Military career

Van Straubenzee was commissioned into the Ceylon Rifles in 1828.^[1] He transferred to the 39th Regiment of Foot in 1833 and, during the Gwalior Campaign, he took part in the Battle of Maharajpore in 1843: he took temporary command of his Regiment when the Commanding Officer was wounded and brought the Regiment out of action.^[1]

In 1846 he transferred to 3rd battalion the Buffs of which he became Commanding Officer in 1851^[1] and fought in the Crimean War commanding the 1st Brigade of the Light Division and taking part in both assaults on the Redan during the Siege of Sevastopol.^[1]

In 1857 he became Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong and led an attack on Canton during the Second Opium War.^[1]

In 1862 he was made General Officer Commanding a Division of the Bombay Army at Ahmedabad and subsequent took overall command of the Bombay Army.^[1]

He became Governor of Malta in 1872.^[1]

He is buried at Bathwick cemetery near Bath.^[1]

Family

He married Charlotte Louisa Richardson in 1841.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Charles Thomas van Straubenzee at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2. ^ Conqueror List

Military offices
Preceded by Thomas Ashburnham	Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong 1858–1859	Succeeded by Sir James Grant
Political offices
Preceded by Sir Patrick Grant	Governor of Malta 1872–1878	Succeeded by Sir Arthur Borton

Persondata
Name	Straubenzee, Charles Thomas Van
Alternative names
Short description	General
Date of birth	17 February 1812
Place of birth	Malta
Date of death	10 August 1892
Place of death	Bath, Somerset