Jasper Nicolls: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}

Born at [[East Farleigh]] in [[Kent]] and educated at a private school in [[Ballygall]] and at [[Trinity College, Dublin]], Nicolls was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] into the [[45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot|45th Regiment of Foot]] in 1793.{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}}

Nicolls spent five or six years in the West Indies, attaining the rank of captain on 12 September 1799. In 1802 he proceeded to India as military secretary and [[aide-de-camp]] to his uncle, Major-general [[Oliver Nicolls]], commander-in-chief in the Bombay presidency. A few days after the [[Battle of Assaye]] joined the army commanded by Sir [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Arthur Wellesley]] (the future Duke of Wellington) during the  [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]] (1803–1805). It is not clear whether he went as a volunteer or was appointed to the staff; but, according to Stocqueler, he was employed in the quartermaster-general's department.{{sfn|Knollys|1895|p=50}} Nicolls was present at the [[Battle of Argaon]] and [[Siege]] of [[Gawilghur]] in 1803.{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}}

In 1806 he sailed with the force under Brigadier-general Crawford, first to the [[Cape of Good Hope]], and afterwards on Lieutenant-general [[John Whitelocke|John Whitelocke's]] [[British invasions of the Río de la Plata|campaign to the Rio de la Plata]].{{sfn|Knollys|1895|p=50}}  Nicolls was present at the disastrous attack on [[Buenos Aires]] in July 1807.{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}} In the ill-organised assault on that town Nicolls found himself isolated with seven companies of his regiment, his colonel having become separated with one or two companies from the main body of the 45th. In this trying position he displayed conspicuous resolution, and, repelling the attack of the enemy, held his ground. On the following day, in pursuance of an arrangement between Whitelocke and the Spanish general [[Santiago de Liniers|Liniers]], Nicolls, together with the other isolated bodies, evacuated the town. The 45th, unlike several other bodies of British troops, did not surrender, and Nicolls refused to give up the colours of his regiment. So conspicuous was his conduct on this occasion that Whitelocke in his despatches thus writes of him: "Nor should I omit the gallant conduct of Major Nichols [sic] of the 45th regiment, who, on the morning of the 6th instant, being pressed by the enemy near the Presidentia, charged them with great spirit and took two howitzers and many prisoners". Nicolls was the only regimental officer whose name appeared in the despatches. At the subsequent trial by court-martial of Whitelocke he was one of the witnesses.{{sfn|Knollys|1895|pp=50–51}}

In 1807 he was appointed [[Commanding Officer]] of the 2nd Battalion of the [[14th Regiment of Foot]] and he went on to fight at the [[Battle of Corunna]] and to take part in the [[Walcheren Campaign]] in 1809.{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}}

In 1811 he became Assistant Adjutant-General at [[Horse Guards (building)|Horseguards]] and in 1812 he was made Deputy Adjutant-General in [[Ireland]].{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}}  Later that year he went to [[India]] as Quartermaster-General.{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}} In 1815, during the [[Gurkha War]] he captured [[Almora]] and reduced [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]].{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}}

In 1825 he was made [[General Officer Commanding]] a Division of the [[Madras Presidency]] and in 1829 he transferred to become GOC [[7th (Meerut) Division]]; in 1838 he was appointed [[Commander-in-Chief]] of the [[Madras Army]].{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}}  In 1839 he was promoted to [[Commander-in-Chief, India]]; he returned to [[England]] in 1843.{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}}

In 1809 he married Anne, eldest daughter of Thomas Stanhope Badcock of Little Missenden Abbey, Buckinghamshire, and together they went on to have one son and eight daughters.{{sfn|Knollys|Lunt|2022}}{{sfn|Burke|1838|p=78}}