| Honorific Prefix: | Sir |
| William Fawcett | |
| Birth Date: | 1727 |
| Death Date: | 1804 |
| Branch: | British Army |
| Rank: | General |
| Battles: | Seven Years' War American Revolutionary War |
| Awards: | Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath |
General Sir William Fawcett KB (1727 - 1804) was a British Army officer who served as Adjutant-General to the Forces from 1781 to 1799. During this period Fawcett was the de facto ruler of the English army, and the most influential officer on the headquarters staff.[1]
William Fawcett descended from an old family of Yorkshire gentry.[2] He was educated at Bury Grammar School in Lancashire,[3] William Fawcett was commissioned into the 33rd Foot in 1748.[4]
In 1758 he was despatched to the War in Germany where he became an Aide-de-Camp to the Marquess of Granby.[4] Then in 1775 he was sent to Hannover, Hesse-Cassel, Hesse-Hanau and Hanover to recruit troops for the War in America.[4] The majority of the German troops who fought on the British side in the conflict were known as the "Hessians" in reference to the place of origin.[5]
He was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1781: in this role he was involved in introducing Regulations for the Heavy Infantry and then for the Cavalry.[4]
In retirement he served as Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1796[4] until 1804.[6]
He lived at 31 Great George Street in London.[7]
He died on 19 March 1804; and his funeral was honoured with the presence of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York, Clarence, Kent, and Cambridge.[2]
In 1749 he married Susannah Brook and together they had eight children. Following her death on 7 April 1783 he married Charlotte Stinton (d. 1805): they had no children.[4]