About Henry Renny
Lived 1815 – 1900. Henry Renny was a military leader.
General Henry Renny (9 September 1815 – 4 April 1900) was a British Army officer who was the 24th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon.
He was appointed General Officer Commanding, Ceylon in 1869 and succeeded by John Alfred Street in 1874.
Career Born 9 September 1815, Henry Renny was the second surviving son of Alexander Renny-Tailyour of Borrowfield and Elizabeth Bannerman Ramsay. He entered the army as Ensign in 1833. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1835, Captain in 1844, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1853, Colonel in 1854, Major-General in 1867, Lieutenant-General in 1874, and General in 1877.
He commanded the 81st Regiment throughout Indian Rebellion of 1857. For this service and others performed by the 81st Regiment, he was made a Companion of the Star of India (C.S.I.), and received the 1857 Medal. He commanded the 1st Brigade in the Sittana Expedition of May 1858, under Sir Sydney Cotton, obtaining medal with clasp.
In 1875, he was given the colonelcy of the 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment of Foot, transferring in 1879 back to the 81st Regiment of Foot (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) until their amalgamation with the 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot to form The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in 1881. He was then colonel of the 2nd Battalion of the Loyal North Lancs until his death. He was made full general on 1 October 1877.
General Renny died at his residence in South Kensington on 4 April 1900.
He married Eleanor Anne Hepburn, third daughter of Robert Rickart Hepburn of Rickarton and had two sons and a daughter.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Henry Renny?
British Army general
When was Henry Renny born?
Henry Renny was born in 1815.
When did Henry Renny die?
Henry Renny died in 1900.
What was Henry Renny's occupation?
Henry Renny was a military leader.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Renny. https://biography.guide/henry-renny/
MLA: "Henry Renny." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-renny/.
Chicago: "Henry Renny." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-renny/.
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