George Charles Hoste

Sir George Charles Hoste (10 March 1786 – 21 April 1845) was a British Army officer who fought in various battles and engagements of the Napoleonic Wars in Italy, Egypt, Belgium, and France between 1805 and 1815. The third son of a clergyman in Norfolk, he was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and commissioned as second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in 1802. He was promoted first lieutenant in the same year, captain in 1812, brevet-major in 1814, lieutenant-colonel in 1825, brevet-colonel in 1838, and colonel in 1841.

In 1805 Hoste went with an expedition under Lieutenant-general Sir James Henry Craig to protect the Kingdom of Naples. He was in the battle of Maida, at the siege of Scylla castle, and in the withdrawal to Sicily. He was afterwards in Egypt, in 1807, under Major-general McKenzie Fraser, and present at the taking of Alexandria, and the failed attack on Rosetta. He then returned to Sicily, served in different parts of that island from 1808 to 1809, and was present at the attack and taking of the islands of Ischia and Procida in the Bay of Naples.

In 1810 he was in the Spartan frigate, under Captain Jaheel Brenton, and distinguished himself during a successful engagement with a squadron of French Neapolitan vessels in the Bay of Naples; for which he received from Ferdinand the Sicilian Order of Merit. He returned to England in 1811. From 1813 to 1814 he served in Holland with Sir Thomas Graham, and was present at the attack on Antwerp and the storming of Bergen-op-Zoom, for which he obtained the brevet rank of major. He returned to England at the peace of 1814, and on the recommencement of the war in 1815 he joined the allied army at Brussels, and in the battle of Waterloo was attached to the Prince of Orange's 1st Army Corps as commanding Royal Engineer.

He was employed on a committee in Canada in 1825, and also in Ireland in 1828. He was made a Companion of the Bath after the battle of Waterloo, and a gentleman usher of the privy chamber to Queen Adelaide in 1830. He died in 1845.

Early years George Charles Hoste was born on 10 March 1786 in Tittleshall, Norfolk. He was the third son of the Rev. Dixon Hoste, the Church of England rector of Tittleshall, and Margaret Stanforth, daughter of Henry Stanforth of Salthouse, Norfolk and younger brother of Royal Navy officer Sir William Hoste. Hoste was admitted a cadet of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and obtained a commission as second lieutenant in the British Army's Royal Engineers on 20 December 1802.

In his despatch Brenton praises Hoste's services. King Ferdinand conferred upon him the honour of knighthood of the third class of the royal Sicilian Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit 'for great courage and intrepidity' on this occasion, and he was permitted by the Prince Regent to accept and wear the insignia. He was recommended by Sir John Stuart for a majority, but was considered to be too young.

England, 1811–1812 In December 1810 Hoste left Sicily for Gibraltar, and in May 1811, having returned to England, was stationed at Landguard Fort. On 4 January 1812 he accidentally killed his younger brother, Charles Fox, when the brothers were out shooting at Tittleshall, Norfolk, and the gun of George Hoste accidentally went off, and shot his brother, who, according to the European Magazine, died instantly.

Holland, 1813–1814

In November 1813 Hoste accompanied the British expedition to Holland, landing on 24 November and marching to Delft. He served under Sir Thomas Graham in the bombardment of Antwerp from February 1814 until it was abandoned by the French. The object was to take the garrison by surprise, and Hoste's column found no difficulty in escalading and entering at the point designated for them, but by dawn the assaulting British columns were forced to withdraw due to a series of mistakes despite nearly taking the place.

Hoste was appointed commanding Royal Engineer of the 1st Army Corps commanded by the Prince of Orange, and served in that capacity throughout the Waterloo campaign: in Belgium, at the battles of Quatre Bras on 16 June and Waterloo on 18 June, and, after crossing into France, at the assault of Péronne on 26 June and the occupation of Paris on 7 July. In November 1815 he was one of the British commissioners appointed to take over the French fortresses on the northern frontier for occupation by the Prussian allies. He became gentleman usher of the privy chamber to Queen Adelaide on the accession of William IV in 1830. He served as commanding Royal Engineer of the eastern, western, and Woolwich military districts successively. It is one of eighty-one studies made by Salter for a grand group portrait of the 'Waterloo Banquet' held at Apsley House on 18 June 1836, at which Hoste was present.

Hoste died at his home, Mill Hill, Woolwich, on 21 April 1845, and was interred at Charlton churchyard, Kent, in a grave which was later covered by a tomb.

Personal life George Charles Hoste married, on 9 July 1812, Mary, only daughter of James Burkin Burroughes of Burlingham Hall, Norfolk, who bore him four sons and two daughters.

Honours

United Kingdom:

Kingdom of Sicily:

Gallery