Lieutenant General Sir Edward Barnes

1834-1838

Born at Beech-Hill Park, near Barnet, in 1776, Sir Edward commenced his career as an Ensign in the 47^th Regiment in November 1792, becoming a Lieutenant on 8^th May 1793, and was gazetted into the 86^th Regiment on 30^th October. He became a Captain in the 99th Regiment on 11^th February 1793, a Major in the 79^th Regiment on 17^th February 1800 and a Lieutenant Colonel in the 46th Regiment on 23^rd April 1807. On 25^th July 1810 he was a Colonel, and promoted Major General on 4^th June 1813. He was Lieutenant Governor of Dominica 1808 - 1812 and was gazetted Lieutenant Governor of Antigua in December 1813 although he did not take up the appointment.

Serving in the Peninsula, to which he was appointed on the staff in 1812, he commanded a brigade at the battles of Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle and Orthes, receiving a Cross and three clasps. Further service in the Netherlands and France in 1815 as Adjutant General caused him to be severely wounded at Waterloo. Resulting from the campaign, he received further decorations in the form of the Austrian Order of Maria and the Russian Order of St Anne 1^st Class. He was further nominated KCB. Colonel of the Fourth Garrison Battalion 1815 - 1816, he became Colonel of the 99^th Regiment on 24^th October 1816. Three years later he was appointed to the staff in Ceylon and from 1820 - 1822 he was Colonel of the 1^st Battalion, Rifle Regiment.

Following an appointment as Colonel of the 78^th Regiment on 25^th August 1822, he became Lieutenant General on 27^th May 1825. From January 1824 until October 1831 he was Governor of Ceylon, and on 24^th February 1831 he was made GCB. This was followed on 7^th June by him becoming Commander-in-Chief in India, an appointment he held until May 1833 with the local rank of General. He became Colonel of the 31^st Regiment on 14^th October 1834. Earlier in the same year, in July 1834, he had entered politics, contesting the seat of Sudbury as a Conservative. Following a tied vote, he gained the seat on the casting selection of the returning officer, but he lost the seat in the general election of the following year. He regained it at the next election in 1837. He died in Piccadilly on 19^th March 1838 at the age of 62 and was the subject of suitable memorials in Ceylon.

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