Colin Halkett

Sir Colin Halkett
Sir Colin Halkett
Born	1774
Died	1856 (aged 81-82)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Peninsular War Hundred Days
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order

General Sir Colin Halkett GCB GCH GCTE (1774–1856) was a British Army officer who became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.

Family

Halkett came from a military family. His father was Major General Frederick Godar Halkett^[1] and his younger brother was General Hugh Halkett.^[1]

Military career

Halkett began his military career in the Dutch Guards and served in various companies for three years, leaving as a captain in 1795.^[1]

From 1800 to 1801 he commanded Dutch troops on the Island of Guernsey.^[1] On 28 July 1803 , a letter of service was issued to Major Halkett (and to Lieutenant Colonel von der Decken) empowering him "to raise a battalion of infantry with an establishment of four hundred and fifty-nine men" and offering him the rank of lieutenant colonel should he increase the number to eight hundred men.^[2] These men formed the nucleus of what was to become the King's German Legion in December 1803. On November 17, 1803, Halkett was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of the 2nd Light Infantry Battalion.^[1] This Battalion was involved in Cathcart's expeditions to Hanover, Rügen and Copenhagen.^[1]

Peninsular War

In 1811 he was given command of the Light Brigade of the King's German Legion.^[1] He held this command throughout the Peninsular War from Albuera to Toulouse.^[1] On January 1, 1812 he was promoted to Colonel.^[1] At the Battle of Salamanca (July 22, 1812), he commanded 1st Brigade of the 7th Division under Major General Hope.

Halkett was promoted to Major General on 4 June 1814.^[1]

On 18 June 1815, at the Battle of Waterloo he commanded the 5th Brigade in the 3rd Division, under the command of Major General Carl von Alten. He was wounded four times during the course of the battle.^[1]

Governor

This passport issued in 1827 lists Halkett's titles

Between 1821 and 1830 he was Lieutenant Governor of Jersey^[1] and the first to reside in the St Saviour Government House, still in use today. During this time he married Letitia Cricket,^[1] widow of Captain Tyle of the Royal Artillery. He had a son, Frederick (John) Colin Halkett, on 10 June 1826.

On July 22, 1830 he was promoted to Lieutenant General.^[1]

He was Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1849 until his death in 1856.^[3]

Two streets in Saint Helier are named after him.

Distinctions

• Britain
  • Gold Cross for Albuera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Nive
  • GCB
  • Waterloo Medal
• Hanover
  • GCH
• Portugal
  • Order of the Tower and Sword 2nd rank
• Bavaria
  • Order of Maximilian Joseph 2nd rank
• Netherlands
  • Military Order of William 2nd rank ^[4]

---

Battle Order of the 1st Brigade at The Battle of Salamanca

Unit	Commander	Number of Men
1st Brigade	Colonel Sir Colin Halkett	unknown
1st Light Battalions King’s German Legion	unknown	unknown
2nd Light Battalions King’s German Legion	unknown	unknown
7 Cos Brunswick Oels	unknown	unknown

---

Battle Order of the 5th Brigade at The Battle of Waterloo

Unit	Commander	Number of Men
5th Brigade	Major General Sir Colin Halkett	2,274
2nd/30th Foot Regiment	Lieutenant Colonel Bailey	635
33rd Foot Regiment	Lieutenant Colonel Elphinstone	576
2nd/69th Foot Regiment	Major Muttlebury	565
2nd/73rd Foot Regiment	Lieutenant Colonel Harris	498

A plaque in Halkett Place, Saint Helier, commemorates Halkett's term as Lieutenant Governor of Jersey

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n} Colin Halkett at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2. ^ Beamish, History of the King's German Legion Vol 1 p.75f
3. ^ Survey of London, volume 11, edited by Walter H. Godfrey (editor), Published 1927
4. ^ Beamish, History of the King's German Legion Vol 2, p.524ff

Literature

• N. Ludlow Beamish; History of the King's German Legion Vol 1. 1832-37 (new edition: Naval and Military Press 1997 ISBN 0-952201-10-0)
• N. Ludlow Beamish; History of the King's German Legion Vol 2. 1832-37 (new edition: Naval and Military Press 1997 ISBN 0-952201-10-0)
• Mike Chappell; The King's German Legion (2) 1812-1816. Osprey 2000 ISBN 1-85532-997-2

External links

• 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica entry
• Halkett's entry on the Queen's Royal Surreys page

Government offices
Preceded by Hugh Gordon	Lieutenant Governor of Jersey 1821–1830	Succeeded by Sir William Thornton
Honorary titles
Preceded by Sir George Anson	Governor, Royal Hospital Chelsea 1849–1856	Succeeded by Sir Edward Blakeney

Persondata
Name	Halkett, Colin
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1774
Place of birth
Date of death	1856
Place of death