General William Hassell Eden (1800 – 10 December 1882) was a career officer in 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 ...

, holding the position of Colonel of the 90th Light Infantry from 1862 to 1881. He purchased his commission in 1814 and actively served until his death. He also served as the acting Governor of Bermuda from 1852 to 1853. He was also the grandson of

Sir Robert Eden, 1st Baronet, of Maryland Sir Robert Eden, 1st Baronet, of Maryland, 23rd Proprietary Governor of Maryland (14 September 1741 – 2 September 1784) was a British official and the last colonial Governor of Maryland. Although a popular governor and an able administrator, E ...

Early life

William was born in 1800 the illegitimate son of William Thomas Eden and Rose Hassell. He was baptised in the parish of St. Peter in Suffolk, with the register reading "''Baptised April 18th William Eden, illegitimate son of Rose Hassell''.".

Military service

Following his training as a gentleman cadet at the

Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC), founded in 1801 and established in 1802 at Great Marlow and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England, but moved in October 1812 to Sandhurst, Berkshire, was a British Army military academy for training infant ...

, Eden was commissioned into the 6th Regiment of Foot on 31 March 1814 as an ensign, serving in France and with the occupying army following Waterloo until 1818. On 22 June 1820 he purchased the rank of lieutenant, and then the rank of captain on 31 July 1823 and the rank of major on 29 August 1826. In July 1829 he is listed as coming off the half pay list and back into active service as a major of the 88th Foot. In August 1839 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 56th Foot.

Later life

He was married to Frances Georgina Rushbrooke in 1832, and they went on to have six children; Fanny Louisa Eden in 1833, William Rushbrooke Eden in 1834, Harriet Mary Eden in 1837, Augusta Frederika Eden in 1839, Archibald Duffield Eden in 1841 and Charles Davers Eden in 1845. In 1853 his son William Rushbrooke died in a shooting accident, having been hunting rabbits with friends when the thumb of one slipped on the hammer of their gun whilst it was aimed at William R. Eden's leg. The artery was shot through, and he died later that evening. A grandson was later named after him,

William Rushbrooke Eden Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom), Lieutenant Colonel and Temp. Brigadier general (United Kingdom), Brigadier-general William Rushbrooke Eden (1873 – 1920) was a career officer in the British Army. He received his commission in 1893 and activ ...

. Fanny Louisa also died in the same year. He died on 10 December 1882.

Legacy

William's son Archibald and three of his grandchildren went on to become successful officers in the British Army, with another grandson becoming a successful Royal Navy officer and another the Government Commissioner for Egyptian Customs. The National Portrait Gallery holds a photographic portrait of him, and another photograph that includes him and his wife.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eden, William Hassell 1800 births 1882 deaths Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst William Hassell British Army generals