Hew Dalrymple

British General
1750-1830

Sir Hew Dalrymple had spent his life in the army - he was a lieutenant at 16 - but in later years he was asked to perform political duties.

He served as Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey between 1796 and 1801 and then went on to become Governor of Gibraltar from 1806-1808.

Known disparagingly as Dowager, Dalrymple took over the British Army in Portugal from Sir Harry Burrard and then agreed to embarrassing terms of the Convention of Cintra.

Recalled to face an official enquiry that effectively ended his career, he still managed to receive a full generalship in 1812.