Lt. Col. Gideon Gorrequer KH (c. 1780 – 18 July 1841) was an Anglo-French soldier who is best known for serving as the aide-de-camp and acting military secretary to Sir Hudson Lowe during the exile of Napoleon upon St. Helena, and for the diary that he kept whilst in this position.
Gideon Gorrequer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1780 |
| Died | 18 July 1841 London, England |
| Resting place | Kensal Green Cemetery |
| Occupation | Soldier |
Early life
editThe Philippes de Gorrequer family came to Jersey in the mid-18th century. They were originally a family with Huguenot stock from Brittany.[1] The Philippes family had lived near Plouvien for a number of years.[2]
Career
editGorrequer joined the army at 16 as an Ensign in the 18th Foot in 1797, and was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant in 1798, Captain in 1804, Brevet-Major in 1814, and Lt.-Colonel in 1826.
Gorrequer first came into contact with Sir Hudson Lowe whilst serving in Sicily and the Ionian Islands. When Lowe was appointed as the Governor of St. Helena, he offered Gorrequer the position of Aide-de-Campe and Acting Military Secretary. Gorrequer accepted this position and arrived on St. Helena in the Phaeton on 14 April 1816.[3]
He was made a Knight of the Royal Hanoverian and Guelphic Order for his services.
Diary
editFor many years Gorrequer's papers, including his diary, were kept locked in the Court of Chancery, until they were finally made available in 1958.
Death
editGorrequer died suddenly whilst walking in Jermyn Street on 18 July 1841. He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.[4]
References
edit- ^ texte, Université de Rennes Faculté des lettres et sciences humaines Auteur du (1 January 1907). "Annales de Bretagne". Gallica. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- ^ Family present in the 'montres' of 1426 and 1534. 1862.
- ^ "St. Helena Who's Who". 1914.
- ^ England, Historic. "Tomb of Colonel Gideon Gorrequer, Harrow Road, Kensal Green Cemetery NW10 - Kensington and Chelsea | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
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