Lot Essay
General Robert Morse (1743-1818) ended his career as Commandant General of the Royal Engineers in 1808, having served in the army since 1757. He was the son of the Rector of Langatt in Somerset and had entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in 1756. His first military experience abroad was with the Duke of Marlborough's expedition to St. Malo in May 1758. This action was unsuccessful and a second attempt was made in September of the same year. A hasty retreat left a number of the party injured, including the young Morse. In 1759 he left England again for Barbados, being promoted to Lieutenant and Sub-engineer serving under General Hodgson, in whose expedition he travelled to Palais, in Brittany, where he was given the task of repairing the fortifications, after the capitulation of the French.
In Germany, during the Westphalian Campaign, he became Aide-de-Camp to the Marquess of Granby and Assistant Quartermaster-General. Following his participation in the embarkation of the army from Holland, he was promoted once more, becoming a Captain Lieutenant and Engineer Extraordinary. While Assistant Quartermaster-General at Headquarters, he was also engineer in charge of the Medway division until 1766 and the Tibury division until 1769. From 1773 to 1775, he served abroad as Commanding Royal Engineer of a number of the West Indian islands. When he returned to England as Captain and Engineer Extraordinary in 1779, he worked on the Sussex coastal defences and then Plymouth and Falmouth. He went to New York as Chief Engineer in North America in 1782 and then to Gibralter in 1791, having been made a Colonel in 1788. Whilst in Gibralter he rose to Major-General, returning to England in 1797 to work on the Board of Ordnance. He temporarily became Chief Engineer of Great Britain in 1797 and was promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1799. When the post of Chief Engineer changed to Inspector General of Fortifications, it was Morse who was first to take the post, a position he held for nine years, until, as General and Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers, he resigned due to failing health. He did, however, live for a further ten years, dying at his house in Devonshire Place in 1818. He was buried in Marylebone Church where a plaque was put up in his memory.
In Germany, during the Westphalian Campaign, he became Aide-de-Camp to the Marquess of Granby and Assistant Quartermaster-General. Following his participation in the embarkation of the army from Holland, he was promoted once more, becoming a Captain Lieutenant and Engineer Extraordinary. While Assistant Quartermaster-General at Headquarters, he was also engineer in charge of the Medway division until 1766 and the Tibury division until 1769. From 1773 to 1775, he served abroad as Commanding Royal Engineer of a number of the West Indian islands. When he returned to England as Captain and Engineer Extraordinary in 1779, he worked on the Sussex coastal defences and then Plymouth and Falmouth. He went to New York as Chief Engineer in North America in 1782 and then to Gibralter in 1791, having been made a Colonel in 1788. Whilst in Gibralter he rose to Major-General, returning to England in 1797 to work on the Board of Ordnance. He temporarily became Chief Engineer of Great Britain in 1797 and was promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1799. When the post of Chief Engineer changed to Inspector General of Fortifications, it was Morse who was first to take the post, a position he held for nine years, until, as General and Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers, he resigned due to failing health. He did, however, live for a further ten years, dying at his house in Devonshire Place in 1818. He was buried in Marylebone Church where a plaque was put up in his memory.