James Bucknall Bucknall Estcourt

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For the South Australian brewer and politician, see Frederick Estcourt Bucknall.

James Bucknall Bucknall Estcourt (1803–1855), was a major-general and MP.

Early life

Estcourt, son of

44th regiment
on 13 July 1820.

Military career

On 7 June 1821 he was transferred to the

F. R. Chesney in the famous Euphrates Valley Expedition, and was placed in charge of the magnetic experiments. He showed himself a loyal assistant to his chief during the next two years of arduous labour and travel, and it was chiefly owing to Chesney's advocacy of his services that Estcourt was promoted major on 21 October 1836, and lieutenant-colonel by brevet on 29 March 1839. His regiment participated in the suppression of the Lower Canada Rebellion, and he was based eventually in Drummondville, Upper Canada, where, in addition to other activities as surveyor, he brought the attention of his superiors to the poor condition of the Cayuga Road.[1]

Treaty of Webster Ashburton

Maine boundary dispute that led to the 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty.

In 1837 he married Caroline, daughter of

Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
.

On 31 March 1842 the foreign secretary, the

lieutenant-colonelcy. By the end of the 1843 season most of the collaboration on the north line, from the source of the St. Croix River to the Saint John River, as well as the settling of the Saint John River boundaries, had been completed. In response to a request from him so that he might hasten progress the following year (1844), Aberdeen dispatched an additional 14 sappers from London; that year Estcourt would employ 500 foremen and axe-men.[1]

Parliamentary career

In February 1848 he entered parliament as M.P. for

Crimean expedition
. Although he had had no experience of actual warfare, he had recently completed the demarcation of the southern border of New Brunswick, a task that had seen him direct in a harsh environment over 500 men.

On 21 February 1854 he was made a brigadier-general,

battles of Alma and Inkerman. He was promoted major-general on 12 December 1854.[4]

Savage criticism

The two chief staff officers, Generals Estcourt and Airey, were held by the public to be especially responsible for the sufferings of the British Army during the first winter in the Crimea; but Lord Raglan defended them in the strongest terms in his despatches of 15 January and 3 March 1855. Estcourt, like Airey, went on steadily with his work, despite adverse circumstances and savage criticism, until 21 June 1855, when he was suddenly struck down by cholera. He at first rallied, but the thunderstorm of 23 June caused a relapse, and he died on the morning of 24 June.

Death

His death was universally regretted.

K.C.B. if he had survived.[6] His widow, who had courageously spent the winter in camp, and had been by her husband's deathbed, was raised to the rank of a K.C.B.'s widow by special patent in 1856.[7] She survived until 17 November 1886, when she died at her residence, The Priory, Tetbury
, Gloucestershire.

References

  1. ^ a b Burant, Jim (1985). "Estcourt, James Bucknall Bucknall". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. 8. University of Toronto/Université Laval.
  2. ^ "No. 21534". The London Gazette. 24 March 1854. p. 938.
  3. ^ "No. 21535". The London Gazette. 28 March 1854. p. 977.
  4. ^ "No. 21640". The London Gazette. 12 December 1854. p. 4051.
  5. ^ The Invasion of the Crimea, viii. 361
  6. ^ "No. 21743". The London Gazette. 10 July 1855. p. 2655.
  7. ^ "No. 21920". The London Gazette. 9 September 1856. p. 3038.
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