Lieutenant-General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
Sir John Moore, (13 November 1761 – 16 January 1809), also known as Moore of Corunna , was a senior
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
officer. He is best known for his military training reforms and for his death at the
Battle of Corunna
The Battle of Corunna (or ''A Coruña'', ''La Corunna'', ''La Coruña'' or ''La Corogne''), in Spain known as Battle of Elviña, took place on 16 January 1809, when a French corps under Marshal of the Empire Jean de Dieu Soult attacked a Briti ...
, in which he repulsed a French army under
Marshal Soult
Marshal General Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duke of Dalmatia, (; 29 March 1769 – 26 November 1851) was a French general and statesman, named Marshal of the Empire in 1804 and often called Marshal Soult. Soult was one of only six officers in Frenc ...
during the
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spain ...
. After the war
General Sarrazin wrote a French history of the battle, which nonetheless may have been written in light of subsequent events, stating that "Whatever Bonaparte may assert, Soult was most certainly repulsed at Corunna; and the British gained a defensive victory, though dearly purchased with the loss of their brave general Moore, who was alike distinguished for his private virtues, and his military talents."
Early years
John Moore was born in Glasgow, the son of
John Moore, a doctor and writer, and the older brother of Admiral Sir
Graham Moore. He attended
Glasgow High School, but at the age of 11 joined his father and Douglas, the young 16-year-old
8th Duke of Hamilton (1756–1799), his father's pupil, on a
grand tour
The Grand Tour was the principally 17th- to early 19th-century custom of a traditional trip through Europe, with Italy as a key destination, undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank (typically accompanied by a tuto ...
of France, Italy and Germany. This included a two-year stay in
Geneva
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...
, where Moore's education continued.
Military and political career 1776–1798
![SirJohnMoorePlaqueHalifaxNovaScotia1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/SirJohnMoorePlaqueHalifaxNovaScotia1.JPG)
He joined the British Army in 1776 as an ensign in the
51st Regiment of Foot then based in
Menorca
Menorca or Minorca (from la, Insula Minor, , smaller island, later ''Minorica'') is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca. Its capi ...
. He first saw action in 1778 during the
American War of Independence
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
as a lieutenant in the
82nd Regiment of Foot, which was raised in Lanarkshire for service in North America by the
8th Duke of Hamilton. From 1779 to 1781 he was garrisoned at
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
. In 1779, he distinguished himself in action during the
Penobscot Expedition
The Penobscot Expedition was a 44-ship American naval armada during the Revolutionary War assembled by the Provincial Congress of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The flotilla of 19 warships and 25 support vessels sailed from Boston on July 1 ...
in present-day Maine, when a small British detachment held off a much larger American force until reinforcements arrived.
After the war, in 1783, he returned to Britain and in 1784 was elected to
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
as the Member for
Lanark Burghs
Lanark Burghs (also known as Linlithgow Burghs) was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (at Westminster Palace, Westminster) from 1708 to 1832 ...
, a seat he held until 1790.
In 1787, he was made Major and joined the 60th briefly before returning to the 51st. In 1791 his unit was assigned to the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
and he was involved in campaigning in the
invasion of Corsica and was wounded at
Calvi. He was given a Colonelcy and became Adjutant-General to
Sir Charles Stuart. Friction between Moore and the new British viceroy of Corsica led to his recall and posting to the
West Indies
The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...
under
Sir Ralph Abercromby
Lieutenant General Sir Ralph Abercromby (7 October 173428 March 1801) was a British soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was appointed Governor of Trinidad, served as Commander-in-Chief, Ire ...
in 1796. Moore played a leading role in the British recapture of
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerindian ...
, which at the time was under the nominal control of the French as a result of a successful invasion by French Republican administrator
Victor Hugues
Jean-Baptiste Victor Hugues sometimes spelled Hughes (July 20, 1762 in Marseille – August 12, 1826 in Cayenne) was a French politician and colonial administrator during the French Revolution, who governed Guadeloupe from 1794 to 1798, emancipa ...
. During the campaign, Moore retook Fort Charlotte with the
27th Inniskilling Fusiliers after two days of bitter fighting. The regiment was honoured for their actions in capturing the fort by having their regimental colour displayed on the flagstaff of the captured fortress at
Morne Fortune
Morne Fortune is a hill and residential area located south of Castries, Saint Lucia, in the West Indies.
Originally known as Morne Dubuc, it was renamed Morne Fortuné in 1765 when the French moved their military headquarters and government admi ...
for an hour, before being hauled down and replaced by the
British flag. Upon the capture of the fort, Abercromby departed the island, placing Moore in charge of the British garrison. Moore remained at this post until falling with
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...
, upon which he was repatriated to Britain.
Moore in Ireland 1798
![8thDukeOfHamilton](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/8thDukeOfHamilton.jpg)
In 1798, he was made Major-General and served in the suppression of the
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 ( ga, Éirí Amach 1798; Ulster-Scots: ''The Hurries'') was a major uprising against British rule in Ireland. The main organising force was the Society of United Irishmen, a republican revolutionary group influence ...
. His personal intervention was credited with turning the tide at the
Battle of Foulksmills
The Battle of Foulksmills, known locally as the Battle of Horetown and also known as the Battle of Goff's Bridge, was a battle during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The British Army and Irish loyalists sought to defeat the rebel forces of the Uni ...
on 20 June and he regained control of
Wexford town
Wexford () is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the island of Ireland. The town is linked to Dublin by the M11/N11 ...
before General
Gerard Lake
Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake (27 July 1744 – 20 February 1808) was a British general. He commanded British forces during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and later served as Commander-in-Chief of the military in British India.
Background
He was ...
could, thereby possibly preventing its sacking.
Moore and military training
In 1799, he commanded a brigade in the
Helder Expedition, with the campaign failing after the British and Russian forces failed to overcome entrenched Dutch defenders. Moore himself was seriously injured in the action. He recovered to lead the
52nd regiment during the British
campaign in Egypt against the French, having become colonel of that regiment in 1801 on the death of
General Cyrus Trapaud.
He returned to Great Britain in 1803 to command a brigade at
Shorncliffe Army Camp
Shorncliffe Army Camp is a large military camp near Cheriton in Kent. Established in 1794, it later served as a staging post for troops destined for the Western Front during the First World War.
History
The camp was established in 1794 when t ...
near
Folkestone
Folkestone ( ) is a port town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour and shipping port for most of the 19th and 20t ...
, where he established the innovative system of drill and manoeuvre. Sir
Arthur Bryant
Sir Arthur Wynne Morgan Bryant, (18 February 1899 – 22 January 1985) was an English historian, columnist for ''The Illustrated London News'' and man of affairs. His books included studies of Samuel Pepys, accounts of English eighteenth- and ...
wrote: "Moore's contribution to the British Army was not only that matchless Light Infantry who have ever since enshrined his training, but also the belief that the perfect soldier can only be made by evoking all that is finest in man – physical, mental and spiritual."
War with France 1803–1808
When it became clear that
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
was planning an invasion of Britain, Moore was put in charge of the defence of the coast from
Dover
Dover () is a town and major ferry port in Kent, South East England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies south-east of Canterbury and east of Maidstone ...
to
Dungeness
Dungeness () is a headland on the coast of Kent, England, formed largely of a shingle beach in the form of a cuspate foreland. It shelters a large area of low-lying land, Romney Marsh. Dungeness spans Dungeness Nuclear Power Station, the hamlet ...
. It was on his initiative that the
Martello Tower
Martello towers, sometimes known simply as Martellos, are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the French Revolutionary Wars onwards. Most were coastal forts.
They stand up ...
s were constructed (complementing the already constructed
Shorncliffe Redoubt
Shorncliffe Redoubt is a British Napoleonic earthwork fort. The site is approximately 300 feet by 300 feet and is situated on the Kentish Coast in Sandgate, Kent.
History
In 1793, the French Revolution reached its climax when the Revolutionar ...
), following a pattern he had been impressed with in Corsica, where the
Torra di Mortella
The Tower of Mortella ( co, Torra di Mortella) is a ruined Genoese tower on Corsica, located on the coast near Punta Mortella ( Myrtle Point) in the commune of Saint-Florent, Haute-Corse. It was a progenitor of the numerous Martello towers the ...
, at Mortella Point, had offered a stout resistance to British land and sea forces. He also initiated the cutting of the
Royal Military Canal
The Royal Military Canal is a canal running for between Seabrook near Folkestone and Cliff End near Hastings, following the old cliff line bordering Romney Marsh, which was constructed as a defence against the possible invasion of England du ...
in
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
and
Sussex
Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English ...
, and recruited about 340,000 volunteers to a militia that would have defended the lines of the
South Downs
The South Downs are a range of chalk hills that extends for about across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, in the Eastbourne Downland Estate, East Sussex, in the east. ...
if an invading force had broken through the regular army defences. In 1804 Moore was made a Knight Companion of the Bath and promoted to Lieutenant-General. In 1806 he returned to active duty in the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
and then in 1808 in the
Baltic
Baltic may refer to:
Peoples and languages
* Baltic languages, a subfamily of Indo-European languages, including Lithuanian, Latvian and extinct Old Prussian
*Balts (or Baltic peoples), ethnic groups speaking the Baltic languages and/or originati ...
with
Edward Paget
General Sir Edward Paget (3 November 1775 – 13 May 1849) was a British Army officer.
Career
Born the fourth son of Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge, Edward Paget became a cornet in the 1st Regiment of Life Guards in 1792. He was Member o ...
to
assist the Swedish. Disagreements with
Gustavus IV soon led to his being sent home where he was ordered to
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
in July 1808.
Spanish War 1808–1809
Moore took command of the British forces in the Iberian Peninsula following the recall of
Sir Harry Burrard,
Sir Hew Dalrymple and
Sir Arthur Wellesley
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th-century Britain, serving twice as prime minister o ...
(the future
Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th-century Britain, serving twice as prime minister of ...
) to face the inquiry over the
Convention of Cintra
The Convention of Cintra (or Sintra) was an agreement signed on 30 August 1808, during the Peninsular War. By the agreement, the defeated French were allowed to evacuate their troops from Portugal without further conflict. The Convention was sig ...
on the French troops' evacuation from Portugal. When
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
arrived in Spain with 200,000 men, Moore drew the French northwards while retreating to his embarkation ports of
A Coruña
A Coruña (; es, La Coruña ; historical English: Corunna or The Groyne) is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. A Coruña is the most populated city in Galicia and the second most populated municipality in the autonomous community and s ...
and
Vigo
Vigo ( , , , ) is a city and Municipalities in Spain, municipality in the province of Pontevedra, within the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, Spain. Located in the northwest of the Iberian Penins ...
. Moore established a defensive position on hills outside the town while being guarded by the
15th Hussars
The 15th The King's Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army. First raised in 1759, it saw service over two centuries, including the First World War, before being amalgamated with the 19th Royal Hussars into the 15th/19th The King's Roya ...
. He was fatally wounded at the
Battle of Corunna
The Battle of Corunna (or ''A Coruña'', ''La Corunna'', ''La Coruña'' or ''La Corogne''), in Spain known as Battle of Elviña, took place on 16 January 1809, when a French corps under Marshal of the Empire Jean de Dieu Soult attacked a Briti ...
, being "struck in his left breast and shoulder by a cannon shot, which broke his ribs, his arm,
lacerated his shoulder and the whole of his left side and lungs". Like Admiral
Lord Nelson
Vice-admiral (Royal Navy), Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British people, British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strate ...
, he was mortally wounded in battle, surviving long enough to be assured that he had gained a victory. He remained conscious and composed throughout his final hours. Before succumbing to his wounds, Moore confided to his old friend and aide-de-camp, Colonel Paul Anderson: "You know, I always wished to die this way, I hope the people of England will be satisfied! I hope my country will do me justice!" He asked Colonel Anderson to speak to his friends and mother, but became too emotional to continue, and changed the subject. He asked if his staff were safe and was assured that they were, and where his will could be found. Casting his eyes around the room, he spied
Charles Banks Stanhope and said to him: "Remember me to your sister, Stanhope." He was then silent and died shortly afterwards.
![The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna by Geo Jones](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/The_Burial_of_Sir_John_Moore_after_Corunna_by_Geo_Jones.jpg)
Moore was buried wrapped in a military cloak in the ramparts of the town. Moore's funeral was commemorated in the poem "The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna" by
Charles Wolfe
Charles Wolfe (14 December 1791 – 21 February 1823) was an Irish poet, chiefly remembered for "The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna" which achieved popularity in 19th century poetry anthologies.
Family
Born at Blackhall, County Kild ...
(1791–1823), which became popular in 19th-century poetry anthologies.
The first verse runs:
Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,
As his corse to the rampart we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O'er the grave where our hero we buried.
ending six verses later with:
Slowly and sadly we laid him down,
From the field of his fame fresh and gory;
We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone,
But we left him alone with his glory.
When the French took the town, a monument was built over his grave by the orders of
Marshal Soult
Marshal General Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duke of Dalmatia, (; 29 March 1769 – 26 November 1851) was a French general and statesman, named Marshal of the Empire in 1804 and often called Marshal Soult. Soult was one of only six officers in Frenc ...
. The burial scene was rendered in oil by
George Jones
George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song "He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...
,
RA, and commissioned by Colonel Anderson. The painting was sold by the family in 2016.
The monument was rebuilt and made more permanent in 1811. In his native
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
he is commemorated by a statue in George Square, and in England by a monument in
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...
by
John Bacon. Houses are named for him at
The High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. The original High School of Glasgow was founded as the choir school of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, and is the oldest school in Scotland, and the ...
and
HM Queen Victoria School, Dunblane. Sir John Moore Avenue is in Hythe Kent near the
Royal Military Canal
The Royal Military Canal is a canal running for between Seabrook near Folkestone and Cliff End near Hastings, following the old cliff line bordering Romney Marsh, which was constructed as a defence against the possible invasion of England du ...
.
References
Notes
Citations
Sources
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Further reading
* A historical novel depicting the Penobscot Expedition, with a non-fiction "Historical Note" (pp. 451–468) on sources and key details.
*
*
Volume IVolume II
– The author was a brother of John Moore.
* , volume
I
2
*
*
External links
*
''Sir John Moore in La Coruña, Spain'' A Personal Pilgrimage by Geoff Head & Graciela Albrecht. June 2015.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, John
1761 births
1809 deaths
52nd Regiment of Foot officers
British Army commanders of the Napoleonic Wars
British Army generals
British Army personnel of the American Revolutionary War
British Army personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars
British military personnel killed in action in the Napoleonic Wars
British MPs 1784–1790
Burials in Galicia
Deaths by firearm in Spain
History of A Coruña
Knights Companion of the Order of the Bath
Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Scottish constituencies
People educated at the High School of Glasgow
Military personnel from Glasgow
People of the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Scottish Freemasons
Scottish soldiers