Thomas Saumarez


Sir Thomas Saumarez was a British General who served in the American Revolutionary War.

Early life: 1760–1776

Thomas Saumarez was born in Guernsey on 1 July 1760 to Matthew Saumarez and Cartaret Le Marchant. He was the youngest of four. His brothers were Admiral James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez and Richard Saumarez, a surgeon and medical author.

Remainder: 1776–1845

Saumarez entered the British Army in 1776 where he fought in the American Revolutionary War. He fought in the Siege of Charleston. On March 15, 1781, Saumarez commanded one wing of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in the Battle of Guilford Court House. In October later that year, he was captured at the Siege of Yorktown.
In 1787, he married Harriet Brock. In 1793, he was made Brigade major of the Guernsey military. In 1795, he was knighted by the Price of Wales and promoted to Quartermaster-General to the Forces. In 1799, he was the main inspector of the Guernsey military. In 1811, he was promoted to Major General. From 1812–1814, he was the commander of the garrison in Halifax. In 1813, he was the president and commander in chief of New Brunswick. He was promoted to General in 1838. Saumarez died in 1845.