William Medows

General Sir William Medows KB (31 December 1738 – 14 November 1813) was a British Army officer. He entered the army in 1756 and saw action in North America, the Cape, and India. In 1788 he was appointed Governor of Bombay, transferring to become Governor of Madras in 1790.

That year, at the head of 15,000 men, he attacked Tipu Sultan of Mysore. In a see-saw campaign was slightly wounded, mishandled a crucial assault and attempted suicide before the war ended in Britain's favour. In 1801 was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ireland as a full general.

Military career Sir William was the son of Philip Medows, deputy ranger of Richmond Park, and Lady Frances Pierrepont, daughter of William Pierrepont, Earl of Kingston who married in 1734.

Following on from his years at Eton (1755-56), entered the British Army as an ensign in the 50th Regiment of Foot in 1756. In 1760 he went with his regiment to join the allied army under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, who as Frederick the Great's lieutenant was defending western Germany against the French. Medows remained in Germany till March 1764. In 1769 obtained the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 5th Regiment of Foot, exchanging in September 1773 into the 12th Light Dragoons. Later the same year, Medows married another lady, Frances Augusta Hammerton.

North America, the Cape, and India

In September 1775 Medows exchanged into the 55th Regiment of Foot, which was due to be sent to the Thirteen Colonies to fight in the American Revolutionary War. On 14 May 1776, he was detached from the 55th to command the 1st Battalion of Grenadiers, a temporary formation created by combining the Grenadier companies of half the regiments in General Howe's army. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777, where he was severely wounded commanding his Grenadiers. In November of 1777, following the death of Lt-Col William Walcott of wounds he received at the Battle of Germantown, Medows exchanged back into the 5th Regiment in place of the deceased Walcott. He remained in command of the 1st Grenadier Battalion, however, and led them in action once again at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778. In October of 1778, in preparation for the British invasion of the West Indies, Medows relinquished command of his Grenadiers. Medows, now holding the local rank of Brigadier General, commanded the Advance Corps of General James Grant's army during the Battle of St. Lucia in December of 1778, once again highly distinguishing himself. Tipu eventually sued for peace, and the fighting ended on 25 February while terms were negotiated. The next day, Medows attempted suicide, inflicting three bullet wounds on himself. While the reason for this is unknown, Cornwallis never blamed Medows for his actions on 26 February.

Peace was eventually agreed, with Tipu agreeing to the Treaty of Seringapatam on 18 March.

He died at Bath on 14 November 1813, aged 74.