William Robe was praised as an artillery commander in combat and an organiser of military operations, as well as starting the first regimental school for soldiers' children, and serving as the architect of Quebec's Anglican cathedral.
23 Facts About William Robe
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William Robe was appointed, in addition to his ordinary duties, acting adjutant and quartermaster, and at the instance of Congreve, he was made inspector of ammunition.
3.
William Robe was at the Battle of Famars, the Siege of Valenciennes, the Battle of Caesar's Camp, the Siege of Dunkirk, the Siege of Landrecies, and the operations near Tournay, including at Lanoy and Roubaix.
4.
In 1799 William Robe embarked for Holland with the Duke of York's army in the Helder Expedition.
5.
William Robe was appointed brigade major of Royal Artillery under General Sir Anthony Farrington.
6.
William Robe was promoted to regimental major on 1 June 1806, when he returned to England, and regimental lieutenant-colonel on 13 January 1807.
7.
William Robe accompanied the expedition to Copenhagen under Lord Cathcart in 1807.
8.
On 12 July 1808 William Robe sailed for Portugal, in command of the artillery of Arthur Wellesley's expedition.
9.
When Sir John Moore's army left for Spain, William Robe remained in command of the artillery at Lisbon, under Sir Harry Burrard and John Craddock, until the arrival of Brigadier-General Howarth in April 1809.
10.
On Wellesley's return from England to take command of the British forces in the Peninsula in April 1809, William Robe was in charge of the artillery reserves.
11.
William Robe took part in the advance against Marshal Soult to the Tras os Montes, and the capture of Porto in May William Robe was in the advance into Spain against Joseph Buonaparte, the Battle of Talavera on 27 July 1809, and in the subsequent retreat over the Mesa d'Ibor to Truxillo, and thence to Badajos.
12.
In 1811 William Robe was engaged in all the active operations of the pursuit of Marshal Massena to the region of Ciudad Rodrigo.
13.
William Robe opened the principal breaching batteries, and on the fall of Badajos he was particularly mentioned by Wellington in his despatch.
14.
William Robe was present in the advance against Marshal Marmont, at the attack on the forts of Salamanca and the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812.
15.
William Robe commanded the Royal Artillery at the entry of the army into Madrid, at the surrender of the Retiro, and at the unsuccessful Siege of Burgos, when for the third time he was mentioned in despatches.
16.
William Robe was severely wounded in the retreat from Burgos, while defending the bridge at Cabecon, near Valladolid.
17.
William Robe's wound necessitated his return to England; he was carried four hundred miles on men's shoulders to Lisbon.
18.
William Robe was promoted to be brevet colonel on 4 June 1814, and to be regimental colonel on 16 May 1815.
19.
On 3 January 1815 William Robe was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and a Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order that year.
20.
William Robe was permitted from that date to wear the Order of the Tower and Sword of Portugal, granted to him by the Prince Regent of Brazil on 12 October 1812.
21.
William Robe married Sarah, daughter of Captain Thomas Watt of Quebec, about 1788 in Canada.
22.
William Robe died at Shooters Hill, near Woolwich, on 5 November 1820, and was buried in the family vault in Plumstead churchyard.
23.
William Robe presented to the Royal Artillery Institution at Woolwich all the medals, orders, and decorations of her father and eldest brother, together with miniature portraits of each of them.