About John Tombs
Lived 1777 – 1848 (aged 70–71). John Tombs was a British and English soldier.
Major-General John Tombs (1777–1848) was an officer in the British East India Company.
Education John Tombs was the son of a banker, Joseph Tombs (1745–1818), of Abingdon-on-Thames. He was educated at John Roysse's Free School in Abingdon (now Abingdon School).
Military career He entered service with the East India Company. He commanded the 3rd Bengal Cavalry at the Siege of Bharatpur (1825–26) and was promoted to major-general in 1838. He retired from the Indian Army to Malta where he died. He sent his six sons home to Abingdon for an English education, the most distinguished of them being the sixth son, Major-General Sir Henry Tombs, VC, KCB (1825–1874).
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Tombs's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Tombs's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Tombs?
Indian army general
When was John Tombs born?
John Tombs was born in 1777 in Abingdon-on-Thames.
When did John Tombs die?
John Tombs died in 1848 in Malta.
What was John Tombs's occupation?
John Tombs was a soldier.
What nationality was John Tombs?
John Tombs was British and English.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Tombs. https://biography.guide/john-tombs/
MLA: "John Tombs." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-tombs/.
Chicago: "John Tombs." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-tombs/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:03 UTC