15 Facts About Benjamin D'Urban

D'Urban was born in Halesworth, the youngest but only surviving son of Benjamin D'Urban, and joined the British Army in 1793, enlisting as a cornet in the Queen's Bays at the age of sixteen.

Benjamin D'Urban made rapid progress in the Army and distinguished himself in the Peninsular War.

Benjamin D'Urban served in all the principal sieges and battles, never asked to go on leave, and was laden with honours, being appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order, and Commander of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword.

Benjamin D'Urban received the Army Gold Cross and five clasps for the battles of Busaco, Albuera, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vitoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, the Nive, and Toulouse.

Brigadier General D'Urban was given command of a Portuguese cavalry brigade consisting of the 1st, 11th and 12th Dragoons.

At the Battle of Salamanca on 22 July 1812, Benjamin D'Urban's troopers performed well while assisting the 3rd Division's attack on the French left flank.

Benjamin D'Urban's brigade was present but not engaged at the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813.

In January 1834 in South Africa Benjamin D'Urban took office as governor and commander in chief of the Cape Colony.

Benjamin D'Urban's administration was complicated by the exodus of Dutch farmers to the far north and east and the outbreak of the Cape Frontier Wars of due to clashes between the colonists and the Bantu-speaking Xhosa peoples.

Benjamin D'Urban drove back the Xhosa people and annexed the territory between the Keiskamma and Great Kei rivers.

Benjamin D'Urban was in office when the British government abolished slavery, established municipal and legislative councils, occupied Natal and named it as a new colony for the British Empire.

In 1842, Benjamin D'Urban declined a high military appointment in British Raj India offered him by Sir Robert Peel.

Benjamin D'Urban remained in Montreal until his death in 1849.

Benjamin D'Urban was originally buried at the Papineau military cemetery in Montreal.

Sir Benjamin D'Urban's remains now rest at the Last Post Fund National Field of Honour, a military cemetery owned by the Last Post Fund in Pointe-Claire where there is an obelisk to his memory.