Henry George Grey

Henry George Grey was born on October 25, 1766. He was the son of General Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey. Grey joined the British Army as an ensign in the 26th Regiment of Foot on November 29, 1779. Subsequently, he transferred to serve as a cornet in the 19th Dragoons. During this early period of his military career, Grey served as an aide de camp to his father in Plymouth. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on July 28, 1781, while serving in the 30th Regiment of Foot, and on March 7 of the following year, transferred to the 17th Dragoons. He left his position with his father at the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War in 1783.

Most of Grey’s service as a lieutenant took place in Ireland, where he briefly served as aide de camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Rutland. He was promoted to captain on May 31, 1787, and joined the 18th Dragoons for this purpose. During the French Revolutionary Wars beginning in 1793, Grey served with his father in the Flanders campaign and participated in the siege of Nieuwpoort. Following his father's appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the West Indies, Grey was promoted to brevet major on October 23, 1793, and served as a deputy quartermaster general. He was present at the Battle of Martinique in 1794 and was subsequently sent to Britain with dispatches from the battle. In recognition of this service, he was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel on April 21, 1794.

While still officially a part of the 18th Dragoons, Grey became a substantive major in the regiment on September 1, 1795, though he did not re-join the regiment immediately; instead, he continued his staff career as an assistant quartermaster general in Britain. Sometime soon after, he was given command of the 18th Dragoons, and in September 1796, he took the regiment to the West Indies as part of the expedition under Major-General Sir Ralph Abercromby. Grey spent this period in garrison on Santo Domingo, during which he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 17th Dragoons on October 20, 1796. He returned to Britain with the 17th Dragoons in April 1797.

Grey was promoted to brevet colonel on January 1, 1798, and was appointed aide de camp to King George III at the same time. He achieved the rank of major-general on January 1, 1805. During this period, he served as a staff officer in Britain. On July 11, 1806, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at the Cape of Good Hope, with the status of a local lieutenant-general. During his tenure at the Cape Colony, Grey served as acting Governor in 1807 and again in 1811. He was promoted to substantive lieutenant-general on June 4, 1811, and returned to Britain in November of that year, assuming command of a military district. Grey remained in command until June 24, 1814.

On December 30, 1811, Grey was appointed colonel of the 13th Dragoons. Henry George Grey died on January 11, 1845.