Amos Norcott Explained

Honorific Prefix:Sir
Amos Norcott
Honorific Suffix:CB KCH
Birth Date:1777 8, df=y
Birth Place:Westminster, London
Death Place:Cork, Ireland
Placeofburial:Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork
Placeofburial Coordinates:51.8944°N -8.4806°W
Branch: British Army
Rank:Major General
Unit:33rd Foot, 95th Rifles
Commands:2nd/95th Rifles
C-in-C Jamaica (1834)
C-in-C Cork District
Battles:Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
Peninsular War
Battle of Waterloo
Awards:Companion of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order
Spouse:Elizabeth Noble

Major-General Sir Amos Godsell Robert Norcott CB KCH (3 August 1777 – 8 January 1838) was an English soldier of the 95th Rifles fought throughout the Peninsular War and at the Battle of Waterloo where he commanded a battalion. He later served as an acting Governor of Jamaica, before becoming the commander of Cork District.

Early life

Norcott was born at Westminster, London, the only child of Lieutenant Amos Norcott of the Green Horse Regiment and Henrietta Gordon.[1] He was born after the death of his father, who died en route to Barbados.[2] He entered the British Army in 1793, joining the 33rd Foot Regiment as a second lieutenant and serving on the staff of his great-uncle, Robert Cuninghame, 1st Baron Rossmore, the Commander-in-Chief of Ireland.[3]

Military career

Norcott later served with his regiment in India. During his time there, he became friends with Arthur Wellesley (the future Duke of Wellington), who helped him pay off his gambling debts.[4] In 1802 Norcott transferred into the newly formed 95th Rifles and served with them throughout the Peninsular War. Despite being wounded at the Battle of Corunna, he was promoted to the rank of acting lieutenant colonel and he commanded the six companies of 2nd/95th at the Battle of Waterloo.[5] During the battle, he was badly wounded again; for his actions he was later invested as a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

His lieutenant colonelcy was confirmed on 9 September 1819 with the brevet rank of full colonel of the 8th Foot Regiment. He then became a major general in July 1830.

On 13 September 1831, Norcott was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order in a ceremony at St James's Palace. In 1834, he served as acting Governor of Jamaica before later becoming commander of the Cork District where he died at Marysboro House on 8 January 1838.

Family

Amos Norcott married Elizabeth Noble, of Yorkshire, on 14 November 1801, and had three sons:

Notes

Sources

Notes and References

  1. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538–1975
  2. Barbados, Church Records, 1637–1849
  3. Web site: The History of Maunsell and Other Families. The Internet Archive. 21 March 2013.
  4. Web site: Superintendent Charles Norcott. Peter Conole. policewahistory.org.au. 21 March 2013.
  5. Sir William H. Cope, Bart, The History of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own) formerly the 95th, Chatto and Windus, 1877. Page 205.