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CAMERON, GEORGE POULETT
(1805-1882), colonel, an Indian officer, was the son of Commander Robert
Cameron, R.N., who perished with the greater part of his crew under the
batteries of Fort St. Andero (Santander), on the north coast of Spain, on 22
Jan. 1807. He was appointed a cadet of infantry at Madras in 1821, and in
1824 and 1825 served as adjutant of a light field battalion under
Lieutenant-general Sir C. Deacon in the southern Mahratta country. Returning
to England in 1831, he shortly afterwards 1‘oined the expedition to Portugal
organised >y Don Pedro to recover the throne for his daughter, the late
Queen Maria II. Cameron was attached to the staff of field-marshal the Duke
of Terceira, under whose command he distinguished himself in two actions
fought on 4 March and 5 July 1833, receiving special commendation on the
second occasion for having remained at his post after being severely
wounded. A few years later he was sent on particular service to Persia, and
was employed with the Persian army in 1836, 1837, and 1838, commanding the
garrison of Tabriz. On leaving Persia in 1838 he visited the Russian
garrisons in Circassia. In 1842 he held for a short time the appointment of
political agent at the titular court of the Nawab of Arcot. In 1843 he was
created a C.B., having previously received from the government of Portugal
the order of the Tower and Sword, and from that of Persia the order of the
Lion and Sun. After serving for a time in the quartermaster-general’s
department in the Madras presidency, he was transferred, in consequence of
ill-health, to the invalid establishment. Subsequently, in 1856, he was
commandant of the Nilgiri Hills, the duties of which post were principally
of a civil character. Having retired from the service of the East India
Company early in 1858, he was present with the Austrian army in the Italian
campaign of the following year. He was the author of the following works: 4
Personal Adventures and Excursions in Georgia, Circassia, and Russia,’ 2
vols. 1848; ‘ The Romance of Military Life, being souvenirs connected with
thirty years’ service,’ 1853. He died in London in 1882. |
