G R Gleig

George Robert Gleig was a Scottish soldier, military writer, and clergyman who lived from 20 April 1796 to 9 July 1888. Gleig was raised in Scotland's Stirling. His parents were Janet, née Hamilton, the youngest child of Robert Hamilton of Kilbrackmont, and George Gleig (1753-1840), the Bishop of Brechin from October 1808. Stirling Grammar School was Gleig's original school. At the Battle of Vitoria in Spain on June 21, 1813, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, achieved his final...See more

George Robert Gleig was a Scottish soldier, military writer, and clergyman who lived from 20 April 1796 to 9 July 1888. Gleig was raised in Scotland's Stirling. His parents were Janet, née Hamilton, the youngest child of Robert Hamilton of Kilbrackmont, and George Gleig (1753-1840), the Bishop of Brechin from October 1808. Stirling Grammar School was Gleig's original school. At the Battle of Vitoria in Spain on June 21, 1813, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, achieved his final significant triumph against the French. A month later, George Robert Gleig, a young divinity student, turned down a scholarship to Balliol College in order to enlist in Wellington's army and serve as an ensign in the 85th Light Infantry. Although he adds that the cost at which he could purchase easily exchangeable gold pieces was low-he had to pay 6s for every gold dollar and £5 for a doubloon-his father, who was by that time the Bishop of Brechin, gave him £20, a sizeable amount. Wellington made his first entry into France on October 7. Napoleon resigned on April 6, 1814, although Wellington was not informed until April 12. By then, he had fought and emerged victorious from Toulouse's pivotal fight on April 10. See less