| Notes |
--- "Hampshire Chronicle" 18 Jan 1813, page 4:
The Diomede arrived on Thursday [14 Jan] at Portsmouth, from Lisbon, with Generals Oswald, Pringle and Clinton on board. She sailed on the 1st instant, at which date the army was fast recovering from its fatigues, in its quarters between the Tagus and the Douro.
An earlier report on 16 Jan 1813 says that he had arrived at Plymouth on "Thursday last".
--- "Exeter Flying Post" 21 Aug 1817, page 4:
Plymouth, August 19, 1817.
Yesterday Gen. Sir William Pringle, K.C.B. reviewed on the Hooe, near the Citadel, the 64th Regiment of Ingantry, quartered in this Garrison, of which he is Colonel, and afterwards dined with the Officers of the Mess, accompanied by his relative the Earl of St. Germains.
--- "Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser" 16 Mar 1818, page 1:
Stratford-place, Oxford-street. --- Two First-rate Houses.
By Mr. Laxton,
At Garraway's Coffee-House, Cornhill,
On Wednesday, the 18th Inst. at Twelve, in Two Lots,
by Order of the Executors of the late John Herring, Esq.
The elegant and well-built Mansions of Lord De la Zouch and General Sir Wm. Pringle, Nos. 17 and 21, on the west side of Stratford-place; comprising lofty spacious apartments, elegantly fitted up regardless of expence, with well arranged offices; let upon lease, producing a net rent of 391 pounds 4s. per annumn; held of the Cirty of London, renewable every 14 years for ever, and renewed within the last two years, offering a truly advantageous property, nearly equal to Freehold. The Premises to be viewed by tickets only. Particulars may be had of the Executors, James Griffith, Esq Dectors'-commons, and Richard Crabtree, Esq. Wokingham, Berks; at Garraway's; Mr. Butler, Accomptant, Old Jewry; and of Mr. Laxton, Holborn-bars.
--- "Morning Chronicle" 21 Jan 1819, page 3:
Major-General Sir Wm. H. Pringle, M.P. is arrived at his house in Stratford-place, from a tour.
--- "Morning Post" 29 Jul 1819. page 3:
Fashionable Departures.
Major-General Sir William Pringle, on a tour.
--- "Western Courier, Plymouth and Devonport Advertiser" 30 Dec 1840, page 4:
Sudden Death of Lieut.-General Sir William Henry Pringle, G.C.B.--- We regret to have to announce the death of the above gallant General, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, at the family residence in Stratford-place. We understand the deceased General, who had been out walking, came home shortly before three o'clock, and complained of a pain in his left shoulder. This did not give any alarm. At half-past four he suddenly fell down in his room and expired. The deceased was Colonel of the 45th Regiment, and had been in the army upwards of forty-eight years. He served throughout the Peninsular war under the Duke of Wellington, and for his distinguished services at Salamanca, the passage of the Pyrenees, Nicolle, and Nive, received a cross. Subsequently he was severely wounded in France in Februrary, 1814. In consideration of his bravery on several occasions he was nominated a G.C.B. His commissions bears date as follows:--- Cornet, July 6, 1792; Lieutenant, February 24, 1793; Captain, October 15, 1794; Major, September, 19, 1796; Lieutenant-Colonel, December 5, 1799; Colonel, October 25, 1809; Major-General, January 1, 1812; and Lieutenant General, May 27, 1825. The late gallant General was nearly seventy years of age.
--- "The Gentleman's Magazine", Volume 169, 1841, page 317:
Obituary for Lt.-Gen. Sir W. H. Pringle, G.C.B.
Dec. 23, 1840
In Stratford-place, Marylebone, aged 68, Lieut.-General Sir William Henry Pringle, G.C.B. Colonel of the 45th Foot, and a member of the Consolidated Board of General Officers.
He entered the army as Cornet, July 6, 1792, was Lieutenant Feb. 1803, Captain Oct 1794, Major in the 111th foot, Spet. 1794; Lieut.-Colonel 1799; Capt. and Lieut.-Colonel in the 2nd foot gurads 1802; Colonel in the army 1809; and Major-General, Jan. 1, 1812. In the last-named year he was appointed upon the staff of the Peninsular army; and he commanded a brigade at the battles of Salamanca, Pyrenees, and Nivelle. He received the thanks of the House of Commons in person, after the battle of Salamanca, on the 10th Feb. 1813; and two votes of thanks on the 24th June 1814, for the battles of Pyrenees and Orthes, and Nivelle.
In Feb. 1814 he was severely wounded in France. On the 12th May following he was appointed Colonel of the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles; on the 1st April 1816 he was promoted to the 64th foot; and in 1838 to the 45th, having attained the rank of Liet.-General in 1825.
He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Bath on the enlargement of the order in Jan. 1815, and had subsequently been advanced to be Grand Cross.
Sir W. H. Pringle formerly sat in Parliament fo 1820 and 1825 for the borough of Liskeard, which was in the patronage of his wife's family.
He married in 1806 Hester-Harriet Pitt, only child of the Hon. Edward James Eliot, eldest son of Edward Craggs Lord Eliot, by Lady Harriet Pitt, second daughter of William first Earl of Chatham. This lady (who is niece to the present Earl of St. Germans) survives him. His death was so sudden that a coroner's inquest was considered necessary, when it was found that it had been occasioned by disease of the heart.
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--- "Cobbett's Political Register" Vol. 24, 1813, page 247:
July 31, 1813.
My Lord,
I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that, although from the immense superiority of force, which the enemy directed against the position intrusted to my charge, yesterday it became, in my opinion, imperiously necessary for me to retire from that ground: the conduct fo the officers and troops, British and Portuguese, was such as to entitle them to my entire approbation, and I could not have wished it to be better. ---- Major-General Pringle, with Major General Walker's brigade, under Lieut.-Colonel Fitzgerald, of the 60th regiment, supported by the 34th regiment, and 14th Portuguese regiment, opposed the ascent of the enemy to the ridge on the left of the position, in a most gallant style; drove him repeatedly back, and although unable ultimately to prevent him from ascending the ridge, by a more distant movement, our troops kept their ground firmly, and when ordered to retire, performed it under Major-General Pringle, with the greatest regularity, and with small loss, covered by a battalion of the 14th Portuguese regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel McDonald, of the conduct of which officer, and the steadiness of his regiment, the Major-General speaks in terms of the greatest praise. ---- Colonel Ashworth's brigade, also attacked in his position by a superior force, met the attack with the greatest steadiness, and drove the enemy before him at the point of the bayonet, and held his ground as long as I thought it prudent for him to do so; and a battalion of Brigadier-General Costa's brigade held the ridge on the right of the position to the last, covering the formation of the troops on the ground they were directed to take up: the enemy attempted to force the point, but were repulsed by Brigadier-General Costa, and finally driven down the ridge at the point of the bayonet by that battalion, a part of Colonel Ashworth's brigade, and a small detachment of the 28th regiment. On the whole, I can assure your Lordship, that the enemy had nothing to boast of, nor was our loss severe, considering the disparity of our forces. ---- I feel particularly indebted to Major-General Pringle for his conduct on this occasion, as well as to Colonel Ashworth, Colonel O'Callaghan, and Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzgerald, 60th foot, commanding brigades under him, and also to Lieut.-General the Conde d'Amarante, and Brigadier-General Costa, who was wounded. --- I have the honour to be, &c.
Rowland Hill
To Field-Marshal Marquis of Wellington, K.G.
--- "A History of the British Army" Vol. 9 by Sir John W. Fortescue, page 262:
. . . And all this sacrifice of brave men was occasioned (in Wellington's sarcastic phrase) "by the fancy which people have to attend to other matters than their own concerns, and to form opinions of what is passing in other quarters."
In his report of the affair Wellington ascribed the loss of the guns to Stewart's interference with Pringle's orders, which statement called forth a very angry letter of protest from Stewart. Wellington retorted with still more mordant bitterness. "I attributed the loss of the guns then, as I do now," he wrote, "to unfortunate accident, to which the best arrangements must be liable, and above all to that most unfortunate accident of your being absent when the attack was made"; and he flatly declined to reopen the question. Still unabashed, Stewart wrote a second letter, of which Wellington took no notice whatever; but, having by a strange coincidence received almost at the same minute directions to invest Stewart with the Order of the Bath, the Marquis invited him in soothing terms to repair to headquarters for the ceremony, and to bring with him such officers of his division as he desired. Thus, by a touch of irony which no one could have better appreciated than Wellington, a very grave neglect of duty was rewarded by the red ribbon.
Stewart was a good trainer of troops and a most gallant soldier; and after his belated return to his men in the action he continued in spite of a severe wound to direct their movements to the end. But looking to his blunder at Albuera, his direct contravention of orders during the retreat from Burgos, and his absence from his post at the mement of d'Erlon's attack at Maya, he would have met with no more than his deserts if he had been immediately sent home in disgrace.
--- "The Dispatches of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington" Vol. 6, 1838, page 642:
Lieut. Gen. Sir R. Hill, K.B., to Field Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, K.G.
Elizondo, 1st Aug. 1813.
I have the honor to acquaint your Lordship, that, in compliance with the instruction I received through Major Gen. Murray, I proceeded yesterday withe the column under my orders, on the road to Dona Maria.
. . . The attack on our side was led by Lieut. Gen. Stewart, with Major Gen. Walker's brigade, under Lieut. Col. Fitzgerald of the 60th, who forced back the enemy's skirmishers to the summit of the hill; but coming upon their main body, found them so numerous and so stronly posted, that Lieut. Gen. Stewart was induced to withdraw them until the 7th division should be in closer co-operation with him. About this time the Lieut. General was wounded, and the command of the division devolved upon Major Gen. Pringle, who, with his own brigade, commanded by Col. O'Callaghan, renewed the attack on our side, whilst the 7th division pressed them on the other, and both divisions gained the height about the same time, the enemy retiring, after sustaining a very considerable loss. The conduct of Lieut. Gen. Stewart, Major Gen. Pringle, and of the officers and troops in general, was conspicuously good, and I regret that the the very thick fog prevented our taking that advantage of the situation of the enemy which we might otherwise have done. A part of each division pursued them some distance down the hill, and accasioned them a considerable loss. Having thus far performed your Lordship's instructions, I withdrew my column from the pass, and moved it upon Almandoz.
Major Gen. Pringle praises the conduct of Capt. Heise and Capt. Thorn, on this occasion; and I believe it is the intention of Lieut. Gen. Stewart to report the good conduct of some other officers, but his wound has probably delayed it.
--- "English Battles and Sieges in the Peninsula" by William F. P. Napier, page 418:
Combat of Garris
. . . General Hill immediately established himself, and though the evening was beginning to close his skirmishers descended into the ravine, while two guns played over it upon four thousand men, arrayed on the opposite mountain by Harispe. In this state of affairs Wellington arrived. He was anxious to turn the line of the Bidouze before Soult could strengthen himself there . . . he directed Pringle's brigade to attack, saying with concise enegy "The hill must be taken before dark."
This expression caught the fancy of the soldiers, and was repeated by Colonel O'Callaghan, as he and Pringle placed themselves at the head of the 39th, which, followed by the 28th, immediately rushed with loud and prolonged shouts into the ravine. Pringle fell wounded, and most of the mounted officers had their horses killed; but the troops, covered by the thick wood, gained the summit of the Garris mountain, on the right of the enemy, who thinking from the shouting that a larger force was coming retreated. . . .
--- "Speeches in Communicating Thanks of the House of Commons to Military Commanders, 1807-1816" by Charles Abbot, 1829, pages 54-58:
SALAMANCA
10 Feb 1813
Major-general Henry Clinton and Major-general William Henry Pringle being come to the House, Mr. Speaker acquainted them that the House had, upon the 3d day of December last, resolved, that the Thanks of this House be given to them for their distinguished exertions in the battle of Salamanca, upon the 22d of July last, which terminated in a glorious and decisive victory over the enemy's army; and Mr. Speaker gave them the Thanks of the House accordingly, as followeth:
Major-General Clinton, and Major-general Pringle,
This House is always prompt to acknowledge military merit; and we rejoice to see amongst us those who have signalized their names in war.
When the great captain who commands our armies in the Peninsula, after a series of skilful operations, obtained the opportunity for which he had long been anxious, and brought the enemy to action in front of Salamanca: he relates, that the foremost of his troops, in their first onset, drove the enemy from height to height, and bore down all before them; that when the stress of the battle in other points had checked the bravest of our battalions, and disabled some of their most distinguished leaders, the division of which Major-general Pringle then took the command nevertheless steadily maintained the contest; and that when the reserve was brought up by Major-general Clinton, the issue of the day was rendered no longer doubtful, and the victory was by him completed.
These plain recitals have marked out your exploits for public applause and admiration, and to these honours your country has also added the tribute of her public gratitude.
I do therefore now, in the name and by the command of the Commons of Great Britaing and Ireland, in Parliament assembled, deliver to you, severally, there unanimous thanks, for your distinguished exertions in the battle of Salamanca, upon the 22d of July last, which terminated in a glorious and decisive victory over the enemy's army.
Upon which Major-general Clinton said;
Mr. Speaker,
I assure you, Sir, I set the greatest value on the honour which has been conferred upon me by the vote of the House.
I consider such an acknowledgemnt of services rendered to our country to be amongst the highest recompenses which can be bestowed.
This honourable reward, added the consciousness which I enjoy of having always zealously endeavoured to be useful to the army and to my country, affords me peculiar gratification; but I should be ungrateful towards those brave men whom I had the honour to command upon the occasion to which you have particularly alluded, if I were not to acknowledge how much I feel indebted for the honour which I have just received, to their noble conduct and persevering gallantry throughout the trials of that arduous but glorious day.
I feel, Sir, very sensibly, your kindness in the flattering manner in which you have been so good as to communicate to me the vote of the House, and for which I beg you will do me the honour to accept my sincere thanks.
Then Major-general Pringle sais:
Mr. Speaker,
I feel most sensibly the high honour which has been conferred on me by the thanks of this House. I am well aware that very little of the success of that glorious day at Salamanca can be attributed to any feeble efforts of mine, but to the bravery of those troops which I had the good fortune to command. I shall, however, always consider it as the most fortunate circumstance of my life, the having been placed in a situation which has procured me the high honour which I have this day received. I beg leave to return you, Sir, my thanks for the very flattering terms in which you have been pleased to express yourself on my conduct.
-- "Speeches in Communicating Thanks of the House of Commons to Military Commanders, 1807-1816" by Charles Abbot, 1829, pages 74-78:
PYRENEES:
24 Jun 1814
Major-general William Henry Pringle being also come to the House, and Lieutenant-general the Honourable Sir William Stewart being present, Mr. Speaker acquainted them, that the House had, upon the 8th day of November last, resolved, that the Thanks of this House be given to them for the valour, steadiness, and exertion, so successfully displayed by them in repelling the repeated attacks made on the psoitions of the allied army, by the whole French force, under the command of Marshal Soult, between the 25th of July and 1st of August last; and Mr. Speaker gave them the Thanks of the House accordingly, as followeth:
Lieut.-general Sir William Stewart, and Major General Pringle.
It is my duty now to deliver to you conjointly the thanks of this House, for your gallant and meritorious services in those memorable actions which completed the liberation of Spain.
The inhabitants of the Pyrenees, who witnessed those mighty conflicts, will long point out to their admiring countrymen, those various heights and passes where the valour of British troops under your command at some times repelled the attacks of superior force, where at other times its steadiness effected a retreat which only led to more certain victory, and where finally it returned with an overwhelming pursuit upon the broken ranks of the enemy: they will also point out, those spots where the gallant officers whom we now see amongst us fought through long and toilsome days, where a Stewart made his stand, and where the noblest blood of Scotland was shed in its defences. The historian of those campaigns will also record that your exploits were honoured with the constant and unqualified praises of that illustrious commander, whose name stands highest upon our roll of military renown.
For your important share in those operations, this House thought fit to bestow upon you the acknowledgments of its gratitude; and I do now accordingly, in the name and by the command of the Commons of this United Kingdom, deliver to you their unanimous thanks for the valour, steadiness, and exertion, so successfully displayed by you, in repelling the repeated attacks made on the positions of the allies, by the whole French force, under Marshal Soult, between the 25th of July and 1st of August last, and for your undaunted perseverance, by which the allied army was finally established on the frontier of France.
Upon which Lieut.-general Sir William Stewart said:
Mr. Speaker,
As I have before had the honour of stating, I must feel, Sir, that to others is due from me, while receiving the highest honour that can be bestowed on a British soldier, the report of their admirable conduct during the actions in question: supported as I was by my gallant friend on my right [Major-general Pringle], by such corps as the 92d Highlanders, or the 50th British infantry, I should have been without excuse if a less firm stand had been made on the positions of the Pyrenees than was made; I should have done injustice to the design of our great captain, and to the instructions of my own immediate commander, if I had less exserted myself than I did on these occasions.
That our endeavours have met with the approbation of our country, and have received from you, Sir, so generous an expression of that approbation, is the proudest event of our lives; it ought and will animate us to devote our best exertions in the future service of that country.
Major-gen. William Henry Pringle then said:
Mr. Speaker,
I am highly sensible of the honour I have just received by the thanks of this House; I consider their approbation as the most honourable reward which a military man can receive, and one far beyond what any feeble efforts of mine can deserve. The bale arrangement of the general under whom I served and the bravery of the troops I had the honour to command, left little to be done by any exertions of mine, which I feel more than amply rewarded by the approbation of this House. The satisfaction I feel on this occasion is still further increased by the very flattering manner in which you have been pleased to communicate the thanks of the House to me.
-- "Speeches in Communicating Thanks of the House of Commons to Military Commanders, 1807-1816" by Charles Abbot, 1829, pages 79-83:
ORTHES AND BOURDEAUX
24 June 1814
Lieutenant-gneerals Sir Thomas Picton and Sir Henry Clinton, knights of the most honourable order of the Bath, being also come to the House, and Lieutenant-general Sir William Steward, and Major-general William Henry Pringle, being present, Mr. Speaker acquainted them that the House had, upon the 24th day of March last, resolved, that that the Thanks of this House be given to them for their able and distinguished conduct throughout the operations which concluded with the entire defeat of the enemy at Orthes on teh 27th of February last, and the occupation of Bourdeaux by the allied forces; and Mr. Speaker gave them the Thanks of the House accordingly, as followeth:
Lieutenant-general Sir Thomas Picton,
Lieutenant-general Sir William Stewart,
Lieutenant-general Sir Henry Clinton,
and Major-general Pringle:
You stand amongst us this day to receive our thanks for gerat and signal victories won by British arms in the fields of France.
Descending from the Pyrenees, surmounting, in adverse seasons, all the difficulties of a country deeply intersected, and passing with unparalleled skill and boldness the formidable torrents of Navarre, after a series of arduous and sanguinary conflicts, you came up with the collected forces of the enemy, posted upon the heights of Orthes. Attacked on all sides by British valour, the troops of France at length gave way, and commenced their retreat; pressed however upon each flank, that retreat was soon changed into a flight, and that flight to a total rout: pursuing their broken legions across the Adour, and seizing upon their strong holds and accumulated resources, you then laid open your way, on the one hand to the deliverance of Bourdeaux, and on the other to the lamented but glorious day of Toulouse.
It has been your fortune to reap the latest laurels in this long and memorable war; and leading forward your victorious columns from the Tagus to the Garonne, you have witnessed, with arms in your hands, the downfall of that gigantic tyranny which your own prowess has so materially contributed to overthrow.
Informed of these trumphant exploits, this House lost no time in recording its thanks to all who had bravely fought the battles of their country. But to those whom we glory to reckon amongst our own members, it is my duty and happiness to deliver those thanks personally. And I do now accordingly, in the name and by the command of the Commons of this United Kingdom, deliver to you their unanimous thanks for your able and distinguished conduct throughout all those operations which concluded with the entire defeat of the enemy at Orthes, and the occupation of Bourdeaux by the allied forces of Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal.
Upon which Lieut.-general Sir Thomas Picton said:
Mr. Speaker,
I return my thanks to this honourable House for the honour conferred upon me.
Lieut.-general Sir William Stewart then said:
Mr. Speaker.
I feel overcome by the repeated honour which you have now conferred on me, and can but ill express what I am sensible of on this occasion of high personal honour; I can only say, Sir, that myself, as well as those who were under my command, in the memorable actions alluded to by you, Sir, did our duty to the best of our power, and have now been greatly rewarded. The most happy events have returned us to our country; and that we may act the part of good citizens, as you have been pleased to say that we have done that of good soldiers, is our next duty.
If future events call us again to the field, a circumstance that may Heaven long avert, our greatest good fortune will be to serve under the auspices of so generous a House of Commons as that which I now address; and more expecially to have the generous sentiment of that House communicated through so liberal a channel as has been the case this day.
Lieutenant-general Sir Henry Clinton then said:
Mr. Speaker,
I am very grateful to the House for the honour which has been conferred upon me by their vote of thanks for my servies in the battle of Orthes.
I feel proud to have been thought deserving of this high and distinguished reward; and I beg, Sir, that you will accept my best thanks for the obliging terms in which you have conveyed the vote of the House.
Major-general William Henry Pringle then said:
Mr. Speaker,
I must again repeat the high sense I feel of the honour I have received, and must esteem this as the proudest day of my life, in which my conduct has twice me thte approbation of this House.
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1772 - 1840 (68 years)
[3] 
Married