Havelock, Sir Henry

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Havelock, Sir Henry (1795–1857). Havelock was born in Sunderland and trained for the bar but took an army commission in 1815. He served with distinction in the first Burmese War (1824–6), the first Afghan War (1838–42), and the first Sikh War (1845–6). However, promotion was slow until he was appointed quartermaster of the Indian army in 1854 and adjutant to the queen's troops in India in 1855. He was a member of Sir James Outram's expedition to Persia in 1857 but returned to India after the outbreak of the Indian mutiny. He commanded the first attempts to reconquer the Ganges valley. However, although winning several victories, he failed to hold Cawnpore or lift the siege of Lucknow. He had to await the arrival of Sir Colin Campbell's army, brought back from China, before success could be achieved. He died of dysentery at Lucknow in November 1857, shortly after its relief.

David Anthony Washbrook

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Sir Henry Havelock

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