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- Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge
- Also known as
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Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge
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primary name: Hardinge, Henry
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other name: (Viscount) Hardinge
- Details
- individual; military/naval; politician/statesman; British; Male
- Life dates
- 1785-1856
- Biography
- 3rd Son of Rev. Henry Hardinge, Rector of Stanhope. Was born at Wrotham in Kent. Entered the British Army as an ensign and rose, through a long and brilliant career, to the very summit of his profession. He was actively engaged through the whole of the Peninsular War. He was wounded at Vittoria and lost a hand under Blüchire at Ligney. After the peace, he filled many high ministerial offices, being Clerk Ordnance 1823, Secretary-at-War and PC 1828, Chief Secretary of Ireland with a seat in the cabinet 1830 and 1834. He was again Secretary-at-War 1841 became Governor-General of India 1844, and during his administration there, which lasted to January 1848, occured the war against the seikhs, which he rendered forever famous by a glorious campaign on the banks of the Sutlej. For that and his other services in India he was created by Patent, 2 May 1846, Viscount Hardinge, of Lahore, and of King's Newton, county Derby. In February 1852 Viscount Hardinge was appointed Master-General of the Ordnance and on 28 December of the same year he was made the GOC-in-C and raised to the rank of Field Marshall 2 October 1855. He retired from public life on account of ill health in 1856. He was Colonel 57th Regiment of Foot: he had a cross and five clasps for the Penninsula, was a GCB and Knight of four foreign orders: Prussian, Dutch, Portughese and Spanish. He had been present in 16 general actions. He was a member of the House of Commons in 1820, and he twice received thanks of parliament for his civil and military services. He was given an annuity of £5000 by the Honourable EI Company for his own life and a pension by parliament of £3000/year for the lives of the next two successors in the peerage. Married 10 December 1821 Lady Emily Jane, daughter of 1st Marquess of Londondarry and widow of John James. Children were: Charles Stuart, Arthur Edward, Frances Elizabeth and Emily Caroline.
