Richard Cannon (1779–1865) was a compiler of regimental records for the

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 ...

Career

On 1 January 1802 Cannon was appointed to a clerkship at the Horse Guards, and attained the grade of first-clerk in 1803. Under a Horse Guards order, dated 1 January 1836, signifying the royal commands that an historic account of the services of every

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

in the British Army should be published under the superintendence of the

Adjutant-General An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer. France In Revolutionary France, the was a senior staff officer, effectively an assistant to a general officer. It was a special position for lieutenant-colonels and colonels in staf ...

, the work of compilation was entrusted to Cannon, at that time principal clerk in the Adjutant-General's office. During the ensuing seventeen years historical records of all then existing regiments of cavalry, and of forty-two regiments of infantry of the line, were thus issued "by authority", all of which were prepared under Cannon's direction, except the history of the Royal Horse Guards (issued as part of the series in 1847), which was written by Captain Edmund Packe, of that regiment. After nearly 52 years of service, Cannon retired in January 1854, on his full salary of £800 a year. The work of compilation was then discontinued, some regimental histories which had been announced as in preparation at various times having, apparently, not been proceeded with.

References

External links

*
Google Books: ''Historical Records of the British Army'', by Richard Cannon
;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Cannon, Richard British military historians 1779 births 1865 deaths