William Corbet (17 August 1779 – 12 August 1842) was an
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish people () denotes an ethnic, social and religious grouping who are mostly the descendants and successors of the English Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. They mostly belong to the Anglican Church of Ireland, which was the establis ...
soldier in the service of France. In September 1798 he accompanied
Napper Tandy
James Napper Tandy (February 1739 – 24 August 1803) was a United Irishman who experienced exile, first in the United States and then in France, for his role in attempting to advance a republican insurrection in Ireland with French assistance.
...
in an aborted French mission to Ireland in support of the United Irish insurrection. After two years of incarceration, he escaped from Ireland and served in the campaigns of
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 ...
reaching the rank of colonel. In 1831, under the July Monarchy, he was employed in the French expedition to Greece. He returned to France in 1837, retiring with the rank of Major-General.
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish people () denotes an ethnic, social and religious grouping who are mostly the descendants and successors of the English Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. They mostly belong to the Anglican Church of Ireland, which was the establis ...
Protestant family. In 1798, as a member of the United Irishmen, he was expelled from Trinity College Dublin with Robert Emmet and others for treasonable activities, and went instead to Paris. In September of the same year, he joined a French military force under
Napper Tandy
James Napper Tandy (February 1739 – 24 August 1803) was a United Irishman who experienced exile, first in the United States and then in France, for his role in attempting to advance a republican insurrection in Ireland with French assistance.
...
with the rank of Captain and sailed from Dunkirk with arms and ammunition for Ireland. The expedition had to turn back following the defeat of
General Humbert
General Jean Joseph Amable Humbert (22 August 1767 – 3 January 1823) was a French military officer who participated in several notable military conflicts of the late 18th and early 19th century. Born in the townland of La Coâre Saint-Nabord, ...
and arriving in Hamburg they were handed over to the British authorities and taken to Ireland, where they were imprisoned in
Kilmainham Jail
Kilmainham Gaol ( ga, PrÃosún Chill Mhaighneann) is a former prison in Kilmainham, Dublin, Ireland. It is now a museum run by the Office of Public Works, an agency of the Government of Ireland. Many Irish revolutionaries, including the leade ...
.
Service under Napoleon
Corbet escaped in 1803 and returned to France. He was appointed professor of English at the military college of St Cyr. Later that year he became a captain in the Irish Legion. Following the death of his brother Thomas (who was also in the Legion) in a duel with another officer, he was transferred to the 70th Regiment of the line, where he served in Massena's expedition to Portugal, and distinguished himself in the retreat from Torres Vedras and the battle of Sabugal. After the battle of Salamanca he was appointed chef de bataillon of the 47th regiment and served until 1813 when he was summoned to Germany to join the staff of
. He served at the battles of Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden and others and was made a commander of the Legion of Honour. In December 1814, he was naturalised as a French citizen. In 1815, after the abdication of
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 ...
he was promoted to colonel and chief of staff to
General d'Aumont
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED On ...
at Caen.
Morea expedition
In the period of the
Bourbon Restoration Bourbon Restoration may refer to:
France under the House of Bourbon:
* Bourbon Restoration in France (1814, after the French revolution and Napoleonic era, until 1830; interrupted by the Hundred Days in 1815)
Spain under the Spanish Bourbons:
* ...
, his friendship with the opposition leader, General Foy, placed him under some suspicion, but in 1828 he was selected by
In 1837 he returned to France where, with the rank of Major-General, he was commander in the region of Calvados. He died at Saint-Denis in 1842.
The Irish novelist Maria Edgeworth based the main theme of her novel ''Ormond'' on Corbet's 1803 escape from Kilmainham.