29 Facts About Hudson Lowe

Hudson Lowe's childhood was spent in various military outposts, particularly in the West Indies, but he was educated chiefly at Salisbury Grammar.

Hudson Lowe obtained a post as ensign in the East Devon Militia when he was eleven.

Hudson Lowe chose to avoid travelling to France because the French Revolution had recently broken out.

Hudson Lowe arrived back at Gibraltar shortly after the outbreak of war between Britain and France in early 1793.

Hudson Lowe's regiment served as part of General Dundas's force during the Siege of Bastia and Siege of Calvi driving the French from the island.

Hudson Lowe volunteered to fetch supplies from Livorno in Italy, but nearly died of malaria during the journey there.

When he recovered, Hudson Lowe returned to Corsica, and was stationed in the citadel at Ajaccio as an aide to the Governor, Colonel Wauchope, close to where Napoleon Bonaparte's sisters had recently been living before they fled to mainland France.

Hudson Lowe spent the next two years as part of a British force which was placed to deter an invasion by French and Spanish forces.

Hudson Lowe later saw active service successively in Elba, Portugal, and Menorca, where he was entrusted with the command of a battalion of volunteer Corsican exiles in the British Army, the Royal Corsican Rangers, who were armed with Baker rifles and trained as light infantry.

Hudson Lowe, owing to the unreliability of the Maltese troops and no hope of help by sea, had to agree to evacuate the island.

Hudson Lowe returned to Britain in 1812, and in January 1813, was sent to inspect a Russo-German legion then being formed.

Hudson Lowe accompanied the armies of the allies through the campaigns of 1813 and 1814, being present at thirteen important battles.

Hudson Lowe won praise from Blucher and Gneisenau for his gallantry and judgment, and was chosen to bear to London the news of the first abdication of Napoleon in April 1814.

Hudson Lowe was knighted and promoted to major-general; he received decorations from the Russian and Prussian courts.

Hudson Lowe was to be Governor of Saint Helena, the place of the former Emperor's exile.

Napoleon and Governor Hudson Lowe had a stormy relationship, and only met half a dozen times.

Hudson Lowe ordered sentries to be posted round the garden of Napoleon's residence, Longwood House, at sunset instead of at 9 pm He assigned a British officer the task of catching sight of Napoleon every day.

Hudson Lowe created a set of petty rules that included restricting Napoleon to the Longwood Estate and requiring that the British not address Napoleon by his Imperial titles but only as a general.

Hudson Lowe demanded that Napoleon pay for part of his imprisonment, so Napoleon offered up some Imperial silver for sale.

Barry Edward O'Meara, the Irish surgeon, while initially providing information for Hudson Lowe, ultimately sided with Napoleon, and joined in criticisms from Las Cases and Montholon.

Hudson Lowe knew nothing at all of the world, and like all men who knew nothing of the world, he was suspicious and jealous.

Hudson Lowe was appointed to the colonelcy of the 56th Regiment of Foot in 1831, and in 1842 transferred to the colonelcy of his old regiment, the 50th Regiment of Foot.

Hudson Lowe was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.

Hudson Lowe died at Charlotte Cottage, near Sloane Street, Chelsea, of paralysis, on 10 Jan 1844, aged 74.

In London on 30 December 1815 Hudson Lowe married Susan Johnson, daughter of Stephen De Lancey, sister of William Howe De Lancey, and widow of Colonel William Johnson.

Hudson Lowe had previously had two daughters, one of whom had died, and the other married Count Balmain.

Lady Hudson Lowe died in Hertford Street, Mayfair, London, on 22 August 1832.

Hudson Lowe appears in the play La Derniere Salve by Jean-Claude Brisville.

Hudson Lowe is a character in Tom Keneally's book Napoleon's Last Island.