Richard Lambart, 7th Earl of Cavan

General Richard Ford William Lambart, 7th Earl of the County of Cavan (10 September 1763 – 21 November 1837) was a military commander throughout the Napoleonic era and beyond. He was colonial head of Egypt. He suggested to the British government the removal of the Obelisk, known as Cleopatra's Needle, for long centuries embedded in the sand near Alexandria, Egypt. The undertaking was considered too costly and not taken up until 1877. The Needle commemorates the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars.

Between 1813 and 1837, he held the office of Governor of Calshot Castle one of Henry VIII's device forts.

The title Earl of Cavan was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1647 for Charles Lambart, 2nd Baron Lambart

Biography

Married to a daughter of Judge Gould; his second wife was sister of Dr Arnold of Rugby. She died of consumption in Torquay, Devon.He was commissioned in 1779.

In 1798 He was promoted to Major-General.

In 1800 he commanded a Division in Egypt under Abercromby

He was Colonel of the 2nd Battaion, 68th Foot between 1801 and 1802.In 1805 he was promoted to Lieutenant-General.

He was Colonel of the 2nd West Indian Regiment between 1805 and 1808.

He was Colonel of the 77th Foot between 1808 and 1811.

He was Colonel of the 58th Regiment of Foot between 1811 and 1823.

He was a General Office and Colonel of the 45th Regiment of Foot between 1823 and 1837.

He married the daughter of Sir Henry Gould the younger (born 1710, died 1794).

References

* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p20997.htm thePeerage.com]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=qSYJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA286 DNB, "Gould, Sir Henry, the younger (1710-1794)"]
*"Frederick John William, 8th Earl of Cavan. A Life Sketch", privately printed, no date. Weston-super-Mare.