388:, who promptly removed the transports and so compelled Skerrett to hold out. He also arranged to send assistance from Gibraltar. On 31 December 1811 the French made an unsuccessful assault. Bad weather and a continuous downpour of rain greatly damaged the French batteries and trenches, and supply became difficult owing to the state of the roads. On the night of 4 January 1812 it became known to the garrison that the French were preparing to raise the siege, and on the morning of the 5th the allies assumed the offensive, drove the French from their batteries and trenches, and compelled them to make a hurried retreat, leaving everything in the hands of the garrison. By general consent the chief merit of the defence has been given to Smith.
714:
640:
321:
659:
360:
692:
629:
703:
872:
491:
him, and was obliged to supplement his staff by making eleven officers of the line assistant engineers. A commission sent from
England in 1823 to report on requirements in the West Indies recommended the addition of fourteen engineers to the establishment to enable the work to be efficacious. Smith was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel on 29 July 1825, and to be colonel in the army on 22 July 1830. He was acting
474:. He was one of the officers who introduced stage-coaches-and-four into Paris. The coaches used to meet opposite Demidoff's house, afterwards the Café de Paris. He was also a boxer and an equestrian who imported English thoroughbred horses for racing. His trainer was Tom Hurst, afterwards of Chantilly. He organised successful races at Vincennes that were superior to those of royal patronage in the
670:
306:, and took part under Shipley in the attack on, and capture of, Pigeon Island on 4 February, and in the siege and capture of Fort Bourbon, which led to the capitulation of the whole island on 23 February. He was severely wounded on this occasion, and on his return to England on 31 March 1810 he received an annual pension of 100
490:
Smith was employed in the south of
England as Commanding Royal Engineer until 1 January 1823, when he was appointed Commanding Royal Engineer in the West Indies, with headquarters at Barbados. With eleven different island colonies occupied by troops, he had only five officers of Royal Engineers under
469:
On 19 June 1815 Smith joined the
British army in Belgium as Commanding Royal Engineer of the Second Corps, marched with it to Paris, and took part in the entry into that city on 7 July. He was one of the officers selected by the Duke of Wellington to take over the French fortresses to be occupied by
399:
Smith was promoted for his services at Tarifa to be brevet major, to date from 31 December 1811. He was promoted to be first captain in the Royal
Engineers on 12 April 1812, and returned to Cadiz, where he was commanding Royal Engineer until the siege was raised in July 1812. In 1813 he took part in
379:
commanded the garrison of drafts from regiments at
Gibraltar, with Spanish details, of 2,300 in total. The outposts were driven in on 19 December, and in ten days the French batteries opened fire. During this time Smith was busy making such preparations as he could for the defence of a very weak
396:, points out that though Skerrett eventually yielded to Smith's energy, he did it with reluctance, and constantly during the siege impeded the works by calling off the labourers to prepare posts of retreat. "To the British engineer," Napier writes, "belongs the praise of this splendid action".
416:
on 12 July, he attended him round the positions as senior officer (for the time being) of Royal
Engineers, and his proposed plans of operation met with Wellington's approval. The city fell on 9 September, and, having been mentioned in Graham's despatch, Smith was promoted to be brevet
384:, proposed to abandon the defence, to embark the garrison on board the transports lying in the roadstead, and to sail for Gibraltar. Smith vehemently opposed the proposal, and prepared to make the most desperate resistance. Intimation of the state of affairs was sent to the
265:
on 15 June 1801, and was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Royal
Engineers on 1 October 1802, and was promoted to first lieutenant on 9 October 1802, as which he was sent to the south-eastern military district defences of the south coast of Kent.
519:
On 8 May 1837 Smith was appointed
Commanding Royal Engineer of Gibraltar, where in 1838 he was acting Governor and commanded the forces. He returned to England in the summer of 1840 to go on particular service to Syria in the
565:
Smith returned to his command at
Gibraltar in March 1841. For his services in Syria he received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament and also of the Government, through Lord Palmerston. The Ottoman Sultan
882:
445:
for services in the
Peninsula, especially at the defence of Tarifa. On 28 April 1815 he was appointed Commanding Royal Engineer of the Sussex military district. On 4 June he was made a
507:
in 1834; and he was acting Governor of Gibraltar in 1838. He commanded the British forces in the West Indies from June 1836 to February 1837, for which he received the commendation of
408:(21 June), and the engagements at Villa Franca and Tolosa (24 and 25 June), when he had a horse shot under him. He accompanied Sir Thomas Graham on 1 July to take part in the
585:
On 1 June 1847 Smith received the Silver Medal, which was bestowed on surviving officers of the wars from 1806 to 1814. He had also a clasp for Martinique, and received the
542:'s army in Syria, and on 9 October 1841 was given by the British government the local rank of major-general in Syria in command of the allied land forces. After the
282:, the commanding Royal Engineer. He was promoted to be second captain on 18 November 1807. In December 1807 he accompanied the expedition under General Bowyer from
352:. Smith was left in Cadiz as senior engineer officer in charge of it, as well as of La Isla and the adjacent country, during the operations which comprised the
1052:
945:
839:
593:. He was promoted to be lieutenant-general on 11 November 1851, and Colonel-Commandant of the Corps of Royal Engineers on 6 March 1856. He died at
578:. He was promoted to major-general in the army on 23 November 1841, and returned to Britain from Gibraltar on 15 May 1842, and was invested as a
482:
with either rapier, or sabre, or pistol. He killed three Frenchmen in duels during his stay in Paris. He returned to England on 8 November 1818.
974:
Letters of an Officer of the Corps of Royal Engineers from the British Army in Holland, Belgium, and France, to his Father from 1813 to 1816
991:
550:, where he was severely wounded, despite which he was required to repair the fortifications, organise the defence, and administer the
534:
on 1 September. A landing was effected on 10 September, but Smith was too ill to take immediate command. He was invested, by Imperial
1037:
632:
197:
28:
367:
Smith's health suffered a good deal at Cadiz, and he was sent to Tarifa, near Gibraltar, to be Commanding Royal Engineer during the
677:
521:
348:
to march on the flank of the enemy, while at the same time a sortie was made by the garrison of Cadiz and La Isla across the river
175:
613:, London, on 18 June 1849); and in 1852 married the eldest daughter of Thomas Croft. Smith did not have issue by either marriage.
922:
299:
356:, on 5 March 1811. In spite of this victory the siege was not raised, and the British retired within the lines of La Isla.
135:
985:
956:
673:
586:
446:
1047:
706:
438:
333:
291:
230:
964:
934:
891:
262:
717:
598:
571:
508:
295:
258:
234:
822:
662:
389:
253:, by Juliet, who was the daughter and the sole heiress of Richard Mott of Carlton, Suffolk. The orientalist
1042:
579:
543:
254:
380:
place. When, however, a gaping breach was made by the French after a few hours' firing, Skerrett called a
1010:
996:
349:
546:, the city surrendered on 11 October. On 3 November Smith was involved in the assault and capture of
401:
651:
589:
for Syria. He was employed on special service as a major-general on the staff in Ireland during the
409:
250:
246:
79:
639:
590:
827:
History of the War in the Peninsula and the South of France from the Year 1807 to the Year 1814
713:
442:
426:
368:
433:
on 10 November, and on the same date received permission to wear the Crosses of the Orders of
931:
Journals of Sieges carried on by the Army under the Duke of Wellington in Spain, 1811 to 1814
575:
547:
385:
372:
923:
Reminiscences of Capt. Gronow, formerly of the Grenadier Guards, &c., related by Himself
911:
261:, theologian George Smith (1693 – 1756) was his great-grandfather. Charles Felix joined the
1032:
1027:
837:
Vetch, R. H.; Falkner, James (2020). "Smith, Sir Charles Felix (1786–1858), army officer".
695:
609:
Smith in 1821 married a daughter of Thomas Bell of Bristol (who died at their residence in
492:
434:
226:
206:
41:
658:
8:
965:
Letters of Colonel Sir Augustus Simon Frazer during the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns
461:. a year on 18 June 1815, as he had partially lost the sight of an eye in the Peninsula.
417:
lieutenant-colonel on 21 September 1813 "for conduct before the enemy at San Sebastian".
511:, the general commanding-in-chief. Smith was promoted to be colonel on 10 January 1837.
917:
413:
376:
287:
190:
425:
Smith arrived in Belgium and Holland from the south of France in July 1814, after the
320:
647:
430:
405:
353:
329:
470:
the British. He remained with the army of occupation and commanded the Engineers at
341:
844:
525:
856:
359:
973:
643:
450:
290:, and took part under Shipley in the operations which resulted in the capture of
279:
202:
158:
145:
848:
381:
163:
107:
691:
628:
340:, then blockaded by the French. In the spring of 1811 an attempt to raise the
1021:
876:
610:
475:
574:
and Diamond Medal and Sword. He was granted one year's pay for his wound at
830:
567:
554:
539:
168:
117:
275:
968:. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts. pp. 192, 320.
886:
702:
303:
453:
with clasp for Vittoria and San Sebastian. The previous pension of 100
298:, and Santa Cruz. In January 1809 he accompanied the expedition under
914:. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts. pp. 181, 244.
504:
471:
222:
218:
57:
53:
524:, for which duty he had been specially selected. He embarked in the
875: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
594:
551:
496:
283:
210:
91:
45:
337:
988:. London: Richard Bentley & Son. pp. 112, 273, 337, 342, 482.
500:
495:
in 1828, and in 1830, and in 1831; and he was acting Governor of
214:
49:
982:
Life and Correspondence of Field Marshal Sir John Burgoyne, Bart
948:. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. pp. 270, 272, 273, 332, 336.
535:
531:
345:
895:. Vol. 53. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 21–24.
307:
205:, of which he was colonel-commandant from 1856. He was acting
245:
Charles Felix Smith, who born on 9 July 1786 at Piercefield,
992:"Obituary of Eminent Persons / Sir. C. Felix Smith, K.C.B."
669:
597:, Sussex, on 11 August 1858. There is a memorial to him at
479:
937:. London: John Weale. pp. 14, 17, 19, 134, 136, 139, 348.
1000:. No. 933. Vol. XXXIII. 28 August 1858. p. 193.
538:
dated 30 September 1840, with the command of Sultan
429:, and reached England in August. He was knighted by
1004:
Proceedings of the Royal United Service Institution
457:. for his wounds at Martinique was increased to 300
1019:
464:
926:. 2nd ed. London: Smith, Elder and Co. p. 130.
720:(Ottoman Empire), and diamond medal and sword.
371:by the 8000 strong French force under General
1053:British Army personnel of the Peninsular War
843:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
836:
833:. London: John Murray. pp. 59, 60, 342.
274:On 16 December 1804, Felix embarked for the
209:in 1828, 1830, and 1831; acting Governor of
707:Laureate Cross of the Order of San Fernando
959:. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. p. 310.
582:(military division) on 27 September 1843.
328:On 25 October 1810 Smith embarked for the
696:Knight's Cross of the Order of Carlos III
633:Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
485:
269:
441:of Spain, with which he was invested by
358:
344:was made by sending a force by water to
319:
249:, was the second son of George Smith of
953:History of the Corps of Royal Engineers
942:History of the Corps of Royal Engineers
908:History of the Royal Sappers and Miners
840:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
503:in 1833; and he was acting Governor of
1020:
906:Connolly, Thomas William John (1857).
604:
530:frigate on 9 August 1840, arriving at
880:
449:(military division). He received the
420:
201:(1786 – 1858), was an officer of the
788:
786:
784:
782:
780:
778:
750:
748:
746:
744:
742:
394:History of the War in the Peninsula
315:
225:in 1838. He received the Orders of
13:
900:
447:Companion of the Order of the Bath
233:of Spain in 1814, and the Ottoman
14:
1064:
804:
775:
739:
572:Order of Glory (Nichani Ichtatha)
1038:British Army lieutenant generals
980:Wrottesley, George, ed. (1873).
892:Dictionary of National Biography
881:Vetch, Robert Hamilton (1898). "
870:
763:Napier 1834, iv. pp. 59–60, 342.
712:
701:
690:
668:
657:
638:
627:
263:Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
221:in 1834; and acting Governor of
823:Napier, William Francis Patrick
977:. London: James Nisbet. p. 82.
795:
766:
757:
730:
560:
514:
240:
1:
724:
465:Belgium and France, 1815–1818
255:Elizabeth Smith (1776 – 1806)
962:Sabine, Edward, ed. (1859).
857:UK public library membership
665:, with clasp for Martinique;
599:St Mary's Church, Broadwater
580:Knight Commander of the Bath
363:Defence of Tarifa, 1811–1812
259:St John's College, Cambridge
217:in 1833; acting Governor of
7:
997:The Illustrated London News
929:Jones, John Thomas (1846).
522:Second Egyptian–Ottoman War
324:Defence of Cadiz, 1810–1812
176:Second Egyptian–Ottoman War
10:
1069:
951:Porter, Whitworth (1889).
940:Porter, Whitworth (1889).
816:
684:
621:
616:
332:, and joined the force of
288:Danish West India Islands
184:
151:
141:
131:
123:
113:
103:
98:
85:
73:
68:
64:
39:
35:
23:
1048:Royal Engineers officers
1011:The Gentleman's Magazine
278:, where he served under
257:was his sister, and the
251:Burn Hall, County Durham
89:11 August 1858 (aged 71)
80:Burn Hall, County Durham
971:Sperling, John (1872).
570:presented him with the
203:British Royal Engineers
194:Sir Charles Felix Smith
849:10.1093/ref:odnb/25785
772:Vetch 1898, pp. 22–23.
736:Vetch 1898, pp. 21–22.
486:West Indies, 1823–1837
478:. Smith was a reputed
443:Ferdinand VII of Spain
412:. On the visit of the
410:siege of San Sebastian
364:
325:
270:West Indies, 1804–1810
544:bombardment of Beirut
386:Governor of Gibraltar
362:
323:
124:Years of service
883:Smith, Charles Felix
801:Vetch; Falkner 2020.
591:disturbances of 1848
493:Governor of Trinidad
404:(18 June 1813), the
207:Governor of Trinidad
42:Governor of Trinidad
16:British army officer
1043:Knights of the Bath
1014:, 1812, 1815, 1858.
918:Gronow, Rees Howell
605:Marriages and issue
427:conclusion of peace
300:Sir George Beckwith
280:Sir Charles Shipley
810:Vetch 1898, p. 24.
792:Vetch 1898, p. 23.
754:Vetch 1898, p. 22.
421:England, 1814–1815
414:Duke of wellington
365:
326:
312:. for his wounds.
191:Lieutenant-General
136:Lieutenant-general
855:(Subscription or
646:, with clasp for
431:the Prince Regent
406:Battle of Vitoria
354:Battle of Barrosa
334:Sir Thomas Graham
330:Iberian Peninsula
188:
187:
25:Sir Charles Smith
1060:
896:
874:
873:
860:
852:
811:
808:
802:
799:
793:
790:
773:
770:
764:
761:
755:
752:
737:
734:
716:
705:
694:
672:
661:
644:Small Gold Medal
642:
631:
316:Spain, 1810–1813
200:
99:Military service
69:Personal details
21:
20:
1068:
1067:
1063:
1062:
1061:
1059:
1058:
1057:
1018:
1017:
903:
901:Further reading
871:
854:
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776:
771:
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762:
758:
753:
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735:
731:
727:
687:
624:
619:
607:
576:St. Jean d'Acre
563:
548:St. Jean d'Acre
517:
488:
467:
423:
369:siege of Tarifa
318:
272:
243:
196:
180:
159:Napoleonic Wars
146:Royal Engineers
90:
78:
31:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1066:
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1001:
989:
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938:
927:
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861:
834:
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815:
813:
812:
803:
794:
774:
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756:
738:
728:
726:
723:
722:
721:
718:Order of Glory
710:
699:
686:
683:
682:
681:
666:
655:
636:
623:
620:
618:
615:
606:
603:
562:
559:
516:
513:
487:
484:
466:
463:
422:
419:
402:Battle of Osma
382:council of war
342:siege of Cadiz
317:
314:
271:
268:
242:
239:
235:Order of Glory
186:
185:
182:
181:
179:
178:
173:
172:
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164:Peninsular War
155:
153:
149:
148:
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114:Branch/service
111:
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108:United Kingdom
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37:
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943:
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932:
928:
925:
924:
919:
916:
913:
909:
905:
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894:
893:
888:
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878:
877:public domain
869:
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729:
719:
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704:
700:
697:
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689:
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675:
671:
667:
664:
660:
656:
653:
652:San Sebastian
649:
645:
641:
637:
634:
630:
626:
625:
614:
612:
611:Onslow Square
602:
600:
596:
592:
588:
583:
581:
577:
573:
569:
558:
556:
553:
549:
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541:
537:
533:
529:
528:
523:
512:
510:
506:
502:
498:
494:
483:
481:
477:
476:Champ de Mars
473:
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460:
456:
452:
448:
444:
440:
436:
432:
428:
418:
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411:
407:
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397:
395:
391:
387:
383:
378:
377:John Skerrett
374:
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267:
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247:Monmouthshire
238:
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59:
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38:
34:
30:
22:
19:
1009:
1003:
995:
981:
972:
963:
952:
941:
930:
921:
907:
890:
865:Attribution:
864:
863:
838:
826:
806:
797:
768:
759:
732:
663:Silver Medal
608:
584:
568:Abdulmejid I
564:
540:Abdulmejid I
526:
518:
489:
468:
458:
454:
439:San Fernando
424:
398:
393:
366:
327:
308:
286:against the
273:
244:
231:San Fernando
193:
189:
169:Hundred Days
152:Battles/wars
118:British Army
18:
1033:1858 deaths
1028:1786 births
887:Lee, Sidney
674:Naval Medal
587:Naval Medal
561:Later years
515:Syria, 1840
276:West Indies
241:Early years
77:9 July 1786
1022:Categories
933:. 3rd ed.
910:. 2nd ed.
859:required.)
725:References
601:, Sussex.
451:Gold Medal
435:Carlos III
375:. Colonel
304:Martinique
302:to attack
292:St. Thomas
227:Carlos III
104:Allegiance
509:Lord Hill
505:St. Lucia
472:Vincennes
392:, in his
350:San Pedro
237:in 1841.
223:Gibraltar
219:St. Lucia
127:1802–1856
58:Gibraltar
56:; and of
54:St. Lucia
920:(1862).
825:(1834).
709:(Spain);
698:(Spain);
595:Worthing
552:Pashalic
497:Demerara
480:duellist
296:St. John
284:Barbados
211:Demerara
94:, Sussex
92:Worthing
46:Demerara
1006:, 1835.
889:(ed.).
879::
817:Sources
685:Foreign
648:Vitoria
622:British
617:Honours
555:of Acre
501:Berbice
499:and of
229:and of
215:Berbice
213:and of
50:Berbice
40:Acting
986:Vol. 1
957:Vol. 2
946:Vol. 1
935:Vol. 2
912:Vol. 1
885:". In
853:
831:Vol. 4
676:, for
536:firman
532:Beirut
390:Napier
346:Tarifa
678:Syria
527:Pique
373:Laval
338:Cadiz
52:; of
48:; of
44:; of
650:and
437:and
400:the
142:Unit
132:Rank
86:Died
74:Born
845:doi
336:at
198:KCB
29:KCB
1024::
994:.
984:.
955:.
944:.
829:.
777:^
741:^
557:.
294:,
851:.
847::
680:;
654:;
635:;
459:l
455:l
309:l
60:.
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