Matthew Sharpe (British Army officer)

General Matthew Sharpe (1773 – 12 February 1845)^[1] was a Scottish politician and British Army officer.^[2]

He was the eldest son of Charles Sharpe of Hoddam Castle, Cummertrees, Dumfriesshire and Eleanor née Renton of Lamberton.^[2]

Military career

Sharpe received his first commission as a cornet in the 16th Light Dragoons in February 1791. He rose to the rank of lieutenant two years later. In 1795 he was promoted to captain in the 28th (Duke of York's Own) Light Dragoons. He rose to be a major in 1796 and lieutenant colonel in 1799.^[3] Having served in campaigns in Flanders and Holland, the 28th Light Dragoons were disbanded in 1802, and Sharpe was placed on half pay.^[2] He returned to active service in December 1803 when he was appointed to the general staff as an inspector of yeomanry and volunteer corps.^[4] In 1809 he was promoted to the rank of major general and in 1825 to lieutenant general.^[2][5][6] Following his retirement, he was awarded the brevet rank of general in 1841.^[7]

Parliamentary career

Following the passing of the Great Reform Act, Sharpe was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Dumfries Burghs at the 1832 general election.^[1][8] He was described as "a Whig of extremely liberal politics".^[2] He was re-elected in 1835 and 1837.^[9][10]

Death

Sharpe died at his residence in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire on 2 July 1845.^[11] He was buried in the graveyard of Hoddom Parish Church.^[12]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 4)
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Notes and Queries Volume 6. 1920. p. 99. http://www.archive.org/details/s12notesqueries06londuoft. Retrieved 13 June 2010. 
3. ^ London Gazette: no. 15166. p. 785. 6 August 1799.
4. ^ London Gazette: no. 15653. p. 1719. 6 December 1803.
5. ^ London Gazette: no. 16308. p. 1667. 21 October 1809.
6. ^ London Gazette: no. 18141. p. 925. 28 May 1825.
7. ^ London Gazette: no. 20044. p. 3007. 24 November 1841.
8. ^ London Gazette: no. 19008. p. 2837. 28 December 1832. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
9. ^ London Gazette: no. 19233. p. 148. 27 January 1835.
10. ^ London Gazette: no. 19527. p. 1979. 28 July 1837.
11. ^ "Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries". Glasgow Herald. 17 February 1845. 
12. ^ Transactions and journal of the proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Volume 9, No.12. Dumfries. 1894. p. 148. http://www.archive.org/details/transactionsjour09dumf. Retrieved 13 June 2010. 

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Lieutenant-General Matthew Sharpe

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Lord William Robert Keith Douglas	Member of Parliament for Dumfries Burghs 1832 – 1841	Succeeded by William Ewart

Persondata
Name	Sharpe, Matthew
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1773
Place of birth
Date of death	1842
Place of death