Karl Marx/Friedrich Engels

Beresford

Written early March to April 9, 1858.

From the English.

["The New American Cyclopædia", Vol. III]

Beresford, William Carr, Viscount, British general, born October 2, 1768 in Ireland, died January 8, 1854 in Kent, illegitimate son of George, first Marquis of Waterford. Entered the army before the age of 16 and served in Nova Scotia until 1790. During this time he lost an eye from the careless shot of a fellow-officer. He served in Toulon, Corsica, the West Indies (under Abercromby), the East Indies, and Egypt (under Baird). Upon his return in 1800 he was promoted by brevet to colonel. Afterwards he served in Ireland, took part in the capture of the Cape of Good Hope and (as brigadier-general) in the attack on Buenos Aires in 1806, where he was forced to surrender but eventually escaped. In 1807 he commanded the forces that captured Madeira and was appointed governor of that island. In 1808 he became major-general, and having arrived with the English troops in Portugal, he was entrusted with the entire organisation of the Portuguese army, including the militia. He was one of the commissioners who settled the terms of the famous Convention of Cintra; he was present during the retreat to Corunna and at the battle, and secured the embarkation of the troops of Sir John Moore. In March 1809 he was promoted to marshal and generalissimo of the Portuguese army, which through him was soon developed into a force excellent in both attack and defence. He fought throughout the war in the Peninsula, energetically supporting Wellington until its close in 1814. On the only important occasion, however, when he had the chief command, at the battle of Albuera in 1811, he displayed very little generalship, and the battle would have been lost but for the act of a subaltern who acted contrary to his orders. He took part in the victories of Salamanca, Vittoria, Bayonne, Orthez, and Toulouse. For these services he was made field marshal of Portugal, Duke of Elvas, and Marquis of Santo Campo. In 1810 he was elected member of Parliament for County Waterford (he never took his seat) and in 1814 was created Baron Beresford of Albuera and Dungannon; in 1823 he was raised to the dignity of Viscount. In 1814 he went on a diplomatic mission to Brazil, where he suppressed a conspiracy in 1817. After his return he rose successively to lieutenant-general of the artillery, general of the army, and (from 1828 to 1830) to master-general of the ordnance. Having supported Dom Miguel in 1823, he was deprived of the brevet of field marshal of Portugal. In politics, though quietly, he acted as a decided Tory. His military strength lay chiefly in the successful reorganisation of the Portuguese army, which by great skill and unremitting effort he finally made into so solid and well-disciplined a corps that it was a match for the French themselves. In 1832 he married his cousin Louisa, daughter of the Archbishop of Tuam and widow of Thomas Hope, the millionaire banker and author of "Anastasius". He left no children, and the title became extinct at his death.