Джон Колборн: Военный карьера и государственная служба британского фельдмаршала

British Army officer

Field Marshal John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton, (16 February 1778 – 17 April 1863) was a British Army officer and colonial governor. After taking part as a junior officer in the Anglo Russian invasion of Holland, Sir Ralph Abercromby's expedition to Egypt and then the War of the Third Coalition, he served as military secretary to Sir John Moore at the Battle of Corunna. He then commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 66th Regiment of Foot and, later, the 52nd Regiment of Foot at many of the battles of the Peninsular War. At the Battle of Waterloo, Colborne on his own initiative brought the 52nd Regiment of Foot forward, took up a flanking position in relation to the French Imperial Guard and then, after firing repeated volleys into their flank, charged at the Guard so driving them back in disorder. He went on to become commander in chief of all the armed forces in British North America, personally leading the offensive at the Battle of Saint Eustache in Lower Canada and defeating the rebel force in December 1837. After that he was high commissioner of the Ionian Islands and then Commander in Chief, Ireland.

Born in Lymington, Hampshire the only son of Samuel Colborne also from Lymington and Cordelia Anne Colborne (née Garstin), Colborne was educated at Christ's Hospital in London and at Winchester College. He was commissioned as an ensign in the 20th Regiment of Foot on 10 July 1794 securing all subsequent steps in his regimental promotion without purchase. Promoted to lieutenant on 4 September 1795 and to captain lieutenant on 11 August 1799, he saw action at the Battle of Alkmaar in October 1799, where he was wounded, during the Anglo Russian invasion of Holland. Colborne was deployed with his regiment to Italy where he distinguished himself at the Battle of Maida in July 1806 during the War of the Third Coalition. He commanded a brigade at the Battle of Bussaco in September 1810 and then commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 66th Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Albuera in May 1811 where his brigade was virtually annihilated by the Polish 1st Vistulan Lancers Regiment of the French Army. After transferring to the command of the 52nd Regiment of Foot he took part in the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812 where he was badly injured and had to be invalided back to England.

Colborne became aide de camp to the Prince Regent with the rank of colonel on 4 June 1814, and, following Napoleon's escape from Elba, he managed to dissuade the Prince from attacking the French Army until the Duke of Wellington arrived. Colborne drove forward towards La Haye Sainte, while Wellington rode back to the main line to order the general advance. He was appointed a Knight of the Austrian Military Order of Maria Theresa on 2 August 1815. After the war he remained with his regiment as part of the Army of Occupation. and was promoted to major general on 27 May 1825.

In August 1828 Colborne was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. As Lieutenant Governor, Colborne increased the population of the province by 70% by initiating an organised system of immigration to bring in settlers from Britain.]] During Colborne's period of office as commander in chief, the Family Compact promoted resistance to the political principle of responsible government. At the end of its lifespan, the Compact would be condemned by Lord Durham as "a petty corrupt insolent Tory clique". Colborne personally led the offensive at the Battle of Saint Eustache in December 1837 defeating the rebel force which had become holed up in a church. His forces burnt the church and set fire to surrounding buildings. Afterwards, he led the sack of the nearby village of Saint Benoît, burning much of the village. The French Canadians gave him the nickname "Le vieux brûlot" ("the old fire breather"). Colborne was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 29 January 1838. Following Lord Gosford's resignation in February 1838, he became acting Governor General of British North America. Durham remained in Canada only for a few months, resigning on 9 October and leaving for London on the fifth rate HMS Inconstant on 1 November, after he learned that his policy of leniency towards the leaders of the prior year's rebellion had been repudiated by the British Government. Durham's departure caused Colborne to again become acting Governor General. Colborne put down a second revolt in November and was confirmed as Governor General of British North America on 14 December. He left Canada in October 1839 after the arrival of his successor, Charles Poulett Thomson (who shortly thereafter would be elevated to the peerage as Lord Sydenham). After arriving back in England, Colborne was himself elevated to the peerage as Baron Seaton, of Seaton in the County of Devon, on 5 December 1839. In recognition of the "important services" rendered by Colborne, and following a message from Queen Victoria, Parliament settled an annuity of £2,000 on him and the next two heirs male who would succeed to the title.

Colborne became High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands in February 1843, and having been promoted to full general on 20 June 1854, he became Commander in Chief, Ireland, in 1855. and retired to his home at Beechwood House in Sparkwell. Colborne also served as honorary colonel of the 94th Regiment of Foot, as honorary colonel of the 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot and then as honorary colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards. He was also colonel in chief of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own). He died at Valletta House in Torquay on 17 April 1863 and was buried in the churchyard of Holy Cross Church at Newton Ferrers. A second statue of Colborne also sculpted by George Adams was erected at Upper Canada College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Colborne Street in London, Ontario is named after Colborne, as is the city of Port Colborne.

In 1813 Colborne married Elizabeth Yonge; they had three daughters and five sons.