Lot Essay
INDENTGeneral William Henry Scott (1790-1868) at the age of twelve accompanied his father, Major General William Scott to France and settled in Versailles, Autumn, 1802. After the Peace of Amiens May 1802, English men and women 'flocked' to Paris in great numbers However, the peaceful relations deteriated and Lord Whitworth the English Ambassador left Paris 12th. May the following year. Napoleon decreed that all the English in France were made Prisoners of War -- those in Paris were sent to Fontainebleau; the decree was extended to Holland and many of the most distinguished English families remained close prisoners at Verdun, St. Omer and other centres for more than eleven years until liberated by the victorious allies. Trapped in Versailles, the Scott family hoped the emergency would pass -- it did not. In December, 1803, Major General Scott was sent to Verdun, his wife and childred remaining at Versailles continually applying for passports. In the autumn of 1803, permission had been sought for young William to go to Weimar to study at the academy -- one year later on 11th. September Mrs Scott wrote "I am sorry I cannot inform you that William's business is finished. It is now in the "Fourth Bureau". She wrote again on 1st. October "I am still plagued about William's passport, the Minister has given leave for it, but has not yet signed it". The passport was received later that month and William Scott departed for Weimar via Verdun the following week and persued his studies there from December 1804 to April 1806. It was during this time that he was granted a commission in the Third Foot Guards as Ensign and was allowed to continue his studies.
Scott arrived in the Peninsula, 1808; Lieutenant and Captain 1811; was present with his regiment at the crossing of the Douro, the taking of Oporto 12th. May, 1809 and the pursuit of Soult's army on the 18th.; he took part in the battle of Talavera 28-29th. July during which he was severely wounded in the side by a musket ball (with lot) and left in the local Bishop's palace, used as a hospital, where he was made a Prisoner of War by the French. One year after his release in 1814, Scott was made Captain and Lieutenant Colonel; Colonel, 1837; Commanded the Scots Fusilier Guards from 1841 to 1844 when he resigned his commission after 41 years of service with the regiment; Major General 1846, Lieutenant General 1854, General 1861; General Scott was appointed to the Colonelcy of the 36th. Regiment October, 1855, a position he held until his death at Brighton, November 1868
Scott arrived in the Peninsula, 1808; Lieutenant and Captain 1811; was present with his regiment at the crossing of the Douro, the taking of Oporto 12th. May, 1809 and the pursuit of Soult's army on the 18th.; he took part in the battle of Talavera 28-29th. July during which he was severely wounded in the side by a musket ball (with lot) and left in the local Bishop's palace, used as a hospital, where he was made a Prisoner of War by the French. One year after his release in 1814, Scott was made Captain and Lieutenant Colonel; Colonel, 1837; Commanded the Scots Fusilier Guards from 1841 to 1844 when he resigned his commission after 41 years of service with the regiment; Major General 1846, Lieutenant General 1854, General 1861; General Scott was appointed to the Colonelcy of the 36th. Regiment October, 1855, a position he held until his death at Brighton, November 1868