Biography of General William Loftus 1752-1831
In or before 1752 [his father] Captain Henry Loftus (age 25) and [his mother] Diana Bullock were married.
In 1752 General William Loftus was born to Captain Henry Loftus (age 25) and Diana Bullock at Raynham Hall, Norfolk. He was baptised at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin [Map].
Around 1770 [his father] Captain Henry Loftus (age 43) puchased a commission for his son General William Loftus (age 18) in Ireland in the 17th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, which was deployed to North America in 1775, where he saw action in the American War of Independence.
On 10 Apr 1775 General William Loftus (age 23) embarked at Cork [Map] for Boston, Massachusetts. He arrived on 24 May 1775.
On 17 Jun 1775 the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought as part of the siege of Boston, Massachusetts.
General William Loftus (age 23) took part.
On 18 Feb 1778 General William Loftus (age 26) and Margaret King were married.
Around 1783 [his son] Lt General William Francis Bentinck Loftus was born to General William Loftus (age 31) and [his wife] Margaret King.
On 04 May 1786 [his wife] Margaret King died.
On 07 May 1790 General William Loftus (age 38) and Elizabeth Townshend were married. She the daughter of George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend (age 66) and Charlotte Compton 16th Baroness Ferrers Chartley 7th Baroness Compton.
In 1792 [his father] Captain Henry Loftus (age 65) died.
In 1796 General William Loftus (age 44) was promoted to major-general, and lieutenant-general in 1803 and full general in 1813.
On 17 Aug 1797 George William Frederick Osborne 6th Duke Leeds (age 22) and [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Townshend Duchess Leeds (age 21) were married. She by marriage Baroness Darcy of Knayth, Baroness Conyers. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend (age 73) and Anne Montgomery Marchioness Townshend (age 45). He the son of Francis Osborne 5th Duke Leeds (age 46) and Amelia Darcy 12th Baroness Darcy 9th Baroness Conyers. He a great x 5 grandson of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland.
On 31 Jan 1799 Francis Osborne 5th Duke Leeds (age 48) died. His son George William Frederick Osborne 6th Duke Leeds (age 23) succeeded 6th Duke Leeds, 6th Earl of Danby, 6th Viscount Osborne, 6th Viscount Latimer, 6th Baron Osborne of Kinderton, 7th Baronet Osborne of Kiveton. [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Townshend Duchess Leeds (age 22) by marriage Duchess Leeds.
In 1807 General William Loftus (age 55) was appointed Governor of Dumbarton Castle which position he held until 1810.
On 14 Sep 1807 [his father-in-law] George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend (age 83) died. His son [his brother-in-law] George Townshend 2nd Marquess Townshend (age 54) succeeded 2nd Marquess Townshend, 5th Viscount Townsend, 5th Baron Townshend of Lynn Regis in Norfolk, 7th Baronet Townshend.
In 1810 General William Loftus (age 58) was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London.
On 21 Mar 1811 [his wife] Elizabeth Townshend died.
On 27 Jul 1811 [his former brother-in-law] George Townshend 2nd Marquess Townshend (age 58) died. His son George Ferrars Townshend 3rd Marquess Townshend (age 32) succeeded 3rd Marquess Townshend, 2nd Earl of Leicester, 6th Viscount Townsend, 6th Baron Townshend of Lynn Regis in Norfolk, 8th Baronet Townshend, 18th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, 9th Baron Compton of Compton in Warwickshire. Sarah Dunn-Gardner Marchioness Townshend by marriage Marchioness Townshend.
In 1821 General William Loftus (age 69) was appointed Colonel of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) which position he held for life.
On 15 Jul 1831 General William Loftus (age 79) died at his home at Wimpole Street, Marylebone. He was buried in the Townshend family vault Raynham Hall, Norfolk on 23 Jul 1831.
Before 1898. Memorial to General William Loftus and [his former wife] Elizabeth Townshend at the Church of St Mary, East Raynham [Map] sculpted by George Gammon Adams (age 76).
Elizabeth Townshend: Around 1767 she was born to George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend and Charlotte Compton 16th Baroness Ferrers Chartley 7th Baroness Compton. On 07 May 1790 General William Loftus and she were married. She the daughter of George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend and Charlotte Compton 16th Baroness Ferrers Chartley 7th Baroness Compton. On 21 Mar 1811 Elizabeth Townshend died.
[his daughter] Charlotte Elizabeth Loftus was born to General William Loftus and Elizabeth Townshend.
Father: Captain Henry Loftus
GrandFather: William Bullock of Sturston Hall in Norfolk
Mother: Diana Bullock