William Medows
General Sir William Medows was a British Army officer. He entered the army in 1756 and saw action in North America, the Cape, and India. In 1788 he was appointed Governor of Bombay, transferring to become Governor of Madras in 1790. That year, at the head of 15,000 men, he attacked Tipu Sultan of Mysore. In a see-saw campaign was slightly wounded, mishandled a crucial assault and attempted suicide before the war ended in Britain's favor. In 1801 was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ireland as a full general. In September 1775 Medows exchanged into the 55th Regiment of Foot, which was due to be sent to the Thirteen Colonies to fight in the American Revolutionary War. On 14 May 1776, he was detached from the 55th to command the 1st Battalion of Grenadiers, a temporary formation created by combining the Grenadier companies of half the regiments in General Howe's army. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777, where he was severely wounded commanding his Grenadiers. In November of 1777, following the death of Lt-Col William Walcott of wounds he received at the Battle of Germantown, Medows exchanged back into the 5th Regiment in place of the deceased Walcott.
He remained in command of the 1st Grenadier Battalion, however, and led them in action once again at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778. In October of 1778, in preparation for the British invasion of the West Indies, Medows relinquished command of his Grenadiers. He returned to Great Britain in 1780, and was now made colonel of the 89th Regiment. Medows held a high command in the expedition sent out under Commodore Johnstone against the Cape of Good Hope in 1781. In September 1788 Medows received the posts of Governor of Bombay and commander-in-chief of the Bombay Army. He remained there until January 1790, when he was transferred to become Governor of Madras and commander-in-chief of the Madras Army. Medows resigned the prize-money (nearly £5,000) which fell to his share and distributed it among the troops. He left for Great Britain in August 1792. On 14 December of that year he was made a Knight of the Bath, on 12 October 1793 he was made a lieutenant-general, and in November 1796 he was appointed to the command of the 7th Dragoon Guards.
He remained in command of the 1st Grenadier Battalion, however, and led them in action once again at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778. In October of 1778, in preparation for the British invasion of the West Indies, Medows relinquished command of his Grenadiers. He returned to Great Britain in 1780, and was now made colonel of the 89th Regiment. Medows held a high command in the expedition sent out under Commodore Johnstone against the Cape of Good Hope in 1781. In September 1788 Medows received the posts of Governor of Bombay and commander-in-chief of the Bombay Army. He remained there until January 1790, when he was transferred to become Governor of Madras and commander-in-chief of the Madras Army. Medows resigned the prize-money (nearly £5,000) which fell to his share and distributed it among the troops. He left for Great Britain in August 1792. On 14 December of that year he was made a Knight of the Bath, on 12 October 1793 he was made a lieutenant-general, and in November 1796 he was appointed to the command of the 7th Dragoon Guards.
