Charles Robert Cureton

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Charles Robert Cureton
Portrait by William Bradley, 1844
Born21 October 1789
Died23 November 1848
Rasulnagar, Pakistan
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1806–1848
RankBrigadier-General
Battles / warsPeninsular War
First Anglo-Afghan War
Gwalior campaign
First Anglo-Sikh War
Second Anglo-Sikh War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath

Brigadier-General Charles Robert Cureton CB (21 October 1789 – 23 November 1848) was a British Army officer who served as Adjutant-General in India.

Cureton was born at Union Street in Southwark, London,[1] the son of Edward Cureton and Henrietta Bill.[2]

Military career

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Cureton was commissioned as an ensign in the Shropshire militia on 21 April 1806.[3] He fought at the Battle of Talavera in July 1809, the Battle of Bussaco in September 1810 and the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in May 1811 during the Peninsular War.[3] He also saw action at the Siege of Badajoz in April 1812, the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812 and the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813 as well as the Battle of Orthez in February 1814, the Battle of Tarbes in March 1814 and the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814.[3]

Cureton also fought at the Battle of Ghazni in July 1839 during the First Anglo-Afghan War and took part in the Gwalior campaign in December 1843.[3] He commanded the cavalry at the Battle of Aliwal in January 1846 and the Battle of Sobraon in February 1846 during the First Anglo-Sikh War.[3]

He became Adjutant-General in India from April 1846[4] and commanded the cavalry division at the Battle of Ramnagar where he was killed in November 1848 during the Second Anglo-Sikh War.[5]

There is a life-size memorial to him in St. Mary's Church in Shrewsbury; he lies in uniform, wearing his medals.[6]

Private life

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Two of his sons were General Sir Charles Cureton and Lieutenant General Edward Burgoyne Cureton.[7]

References

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  1. ^ London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681–1930
  2. ^ London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538–1812
  3. ^ a b c d e Vetch, R. H.; Stearn, Roger T. "Cureton, Charles Robert". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/6943. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. ^ "No. 20592". The London Gazette. 7 April 1846. p. 1280.
  5. ^ "No. 20941". The London Gazette. 2 February 1849. p. 316.
  6. ^ "Colonel Charles Robert Cureton, St Mary the Virgin, Shrewsbury". Military Photos & Video Website. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  7. ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1901). "Cureton, Charles Robert" . Dictionary of National Biography (1st supplement). Vol. 2. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Sources

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Military offices
Preceded by Adjutant-General, India
1846–1848
Succeeded by