Hodson, William Stephen Raikes

Hodson, William Stephen Raikes

▪ British cavalry leader
born March 19, 1821, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire, Eng.
died March 12, 1858, Lucknow, India

      British cavalry leader in India, whose reputation was clouded by charges of fraud and mistreatment.

      Hodson joined the British Army in India at age 23 and served through the First Sikh War (1845–46) in the Bengal grenadiers. As adjutant of the Guides, he played an important role in the Second Sikh War (1848–49); he took command by 1852, creating jealousies. Accused of fraud in 1854, and earlier censured for the arbitrary arrest of a Pathan chief, he was dismissed from the Guides in 1855. Though he was later cleared of any dishonesty, the government refused to reopen the case.

      A new commander in chief of the Guides took Hodson back on the staff in 1857, empowering him to raise a regiment of 2,000 irregular horse. This unit became famous as “Hodson's Horse”; it fought the Indian Mutiny at the British siege of Delhi. After Delhi's capture, Hodson rode to Humāyūn's tomb, there capturing the Mughal emperor Bahādur Shāh II and killing the Mughal princes. That act, plus his vengeful treatment of Indians during the mutiny and unproved charges against him of looting, darkened his reputation. He then took part in fighting before Kānpur and was killed in the successful British attack at Lucknow.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • William Stephen Raikes Hodson — William Hodson, engraving printed as frontispiece to his biography Rider on a Grey Horse, by B.J. Cork, 1958 Born 10 March 1821 Maisemore Court, near Gloucester …   Wikipedia

  • Hodson — is a surname, and may refer to* Arnold Weinholt Hodson, British colonial administrator. * Harry Hodson, British journalist * Kevin Hodson, Canadian ice hockey player * Steve Hodson, British actor * William Stephen Raikes Hodson, British soldier * …   Wikipedia

  • William Hodson — Die Gefangennahme des Großmoguls am 19. September 1857 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • 4th Duke of Cambridge's Own Hodson's Horse — Infobox Military Unit unit name=4th Duke of Cambridge s Own Hodson s Horse abbreviation=Hodson s Horse caption= dates= 1857 1946 country=India allegiance=British Crown branch= British Indian Army type= Cavalry role= size= Regiment command… …   Wikipedia

  • South Luffenham — is a village in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England.It once had a railway station that was located to the north of the village and also served the neighbouring village of North Luffenham. It was opened in 1848 and closed in 1966 …   Wikipedia

  • Harry Paget Flashman — Brigadier General Sir Harry Paget Flashman VC KCB KCIE (5 May 1822 – 1915) is a fictional character created by George MacDonald Fraser, but based on the character Flashman in Tom Brown s Schooldays , a semi autobiographical work by Thomas… …   Wikipedia

  • Maisemore — Coordinates: 51°53′20″N 2°16′16″W / 51.889°N 2.271°W / 51.889; 02.271 …   Wikipedia

  • Flashman in the Great Game — infobox Book | name = Flashman in the Great Game orig title = translator = author = George MacDonald Fraser cover artist = country = United Kingdom language = English series = genre = Historical novel publisher = HarperCollins release date = 1975 …   Wikipedia

  • List of people from Lucknow — This list is basically for notable people who were born ,have lived or have roots in Lucknow.It may also include people who have had great interest in the city at its culture.Authors*Rosie Llewellyn Jones *Abdul Halim Sharar *B.N.Sharga *Ravi… …   Wikipedia

  • khaki — khakilike, adj. /kak ee, kah kee/, n., pl. khakis, adj. n. 1. dull yellowish brown. 2. a stout, twilled cotton cloth of this color, used esp. in making uniforms. 3. Usually, khakis. (used with a pl. v.) a. a uniform made of this cloth, esp. a… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”