Moses Corbet

Moses Corbet
Major Moses Corbet
Born	1728
Died	1814
Allegiance	Great Britain
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Major
Commands held	Garrison of Jersey
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War Battle of Jersey

Major Moses Corbet (1728–1814) was a British Army officer who served as Lieutenant Governor of Jersey from 4 April 1771 to 6 January 1781.

Early career

Corbet joined the British Army c.1745 and on 14 December 1761 was promoted to the rank of Major in the 9th Regiment of Foot.^[1] He was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jersey on 4 April 1771.^[2]

Battle of Jersey

Further information: Battle of Jersey

Plaque on site of former Government House where Moses Corbet was captured by French invading forces on 6 January 1781

On 6 January 1781 a French invading force led by Phillipe De Rullecourt secured the town of Saint Helier and surprised Corbet in bed in Government House (then situated at Le Manoir de La Motte).^[3] De Rullecourt convinced Corbet that thousands of French troops had already overwhelmed Jersey. He threatened to burn the town and slaughter the inhabitants if the garrison did not capitulate and Corbet, unable to ascertain the true situation, surrendered.^[4] Major Francis Peirson, suspecting that De Rullecourt only had a small force, took command of the British troops in Corbet's absence and counter-attacked leading to a decisive engagement in which the British forces were victorious.^[3][5][6]

Corbet was subsequently tried by Court-martial at Horseguards.^[7]

Portrait

A formal full length portrait of Major Moses Corbet's portrait was created by noted artist Philippe Jean (1755–1802).^[8] Philippe Jean was made famous for his miniature portrait of Guernsey born Sir Isaac Brock as well as his commissioned portrait of King George III.

Ancestors

Moses Corbet is an ancestor to Guernsey poet and painter Denys Corbet and British Canadian artist Christian Cardell Corbet.

References

1. ^ Corbett Name Study Gentlemans Magazine
2. ^ London Gazette: no. 11133. p. 2. 6 April 1771. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
3. ^ ^{a b} The Channel Islands by C. J. Metcalfe
4. ^ Tate Gallery
5. ^ American Revolution: Battle of Jersey
6. ^ That was Jersey
7. ^ The proceedings at large on the trial of Moses Corbet, Esq; lieutenant governor of Jersey. Tried by a Court Martial, held at the Horse Guards, May 1, 1781 National Library of Australia
8. ^ Jersey Heritage collection

Government offices
Preceded by Rudolph Bentinck (acting)	Lieutenant Governor of Jersey 1771–1781	Succeeded by Francis Peirson

Persondata
Name	Corbet, Moses
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1728
Place of birth
Date of death	1814
Place of death