1. Edward Pakenham was the son of the Baron Longford and the brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington, with whom he served in the Peninsular War.
16 Facts About Edward Pakenham
1. 2.
On 8 January 1815, Pakenham was killed in action while leading his men at the Battle of New Orleans.
3.
Edward Pakenham's family purchased his commission as a lieutenant in the 92nd Regiment of Foot when he was only sixteen.
4.
Between 1799 and 1800, Edward Pakenham represented Longford Borough in the Irish House of Commons.
5.
Edward Pakenham served with the 23rd Light Dragoons against the French in Ireland during the 1798 Rebellion and later in Nova Scotia, Barbados, and Saint Croix.
6.
Edward Pakenham led his men in an attack on Saint Lucia in 1803, where he was wounded.
7.
Edward Pakenham fought in the Danish campaign at the Battle of Copenhagen and in Martinique against the French Empire, where he received another wounding.
8.
Edward Pakenham commanded a regiment in the Battle of Bussaco in 1810 and in 1811 fought in the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro to defend the besieged fortress of Almeida, helping to secure a British victory.
9.
Edward Pakenham received the Army Gold Cross and clasps for the battles of Martinique, Busaco, Fuentes de Onoro, Salamanca, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthez, and Toulouse.
10.
In September 1814, Edward Pakenham, having been promoted to the rank of major general, accepted an offer to replace General Robert Ross as commander of the British North American army, after Ross was killed during the skirmishing prior to the Battle of North Point near Baltimore.
11.
Edward Pakenham inexplicably decided to withdraw all the soldiers after seeing the left side of his reconnaissance-in-force collapsing and retreating in panic.
12.
Edward Pakenham wanted to use Chef Menteur Pass as the invasion route, but he was overruled by Admiral Cochrane, who insisted that his boats were providing everything needed.
13.
Edward Pakenham developed a complex plan, dividing his forces into 4 brigades.
14.
Edward Pakenham summoned his Assistant Adjutant General, Major Harry Smith, and informed him Thornton's delayed troops would have no impact upon the main attack on the Left Bank.
15.
Edward Pakenham decided to continue with the attack, half an hour before daylight, at 6.20am.
16.
Edward Pakenham's body was returned in a cask of rum and buried in the Pakenham family vault in Killucan in County Westmeath, Ireland.