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{{Short description|British Army general}} {{Short description|British Army officer and colonial administrator (1769–1844)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder {{Infobox officeholder
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| image = Hudson Lowe BNF Gallica.jpg | image = Hudson Lowe BNF Gallica.jpg
| caption = Sir Hudson Lowe and his signature | caption = Sir Hudson Lowe and his signature
| alt = | office = ]
| order = 14th | term_start = 1816
| office = General Officer Commanding, Ceylon | term_end = 1821
| term_start = 1826 | predecessor = ]
| term_end = ?
| predecessor = ]
| successor = ] | successor = ]
| order2 = | order2 =
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| successor2 = | successor2 =
| birth_date = 28 July 1769 | birth_date = 28 July 1769
| birth_place = | birth_place = ], Ireland
| death_date = {{death date and age|1844|1|10|1769|7|28|df=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1844|1|10|1769|7|28|df=y}}
| death_place = | death_place =
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| branch = ] | branch = ]
| serviceyears = | serviceyears =
| rank = ] | rank = ]
| unit = | unit =
| commands = ]<br />] | commands = ]<br />]
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}} }}


'''Sir Hudson Lowe''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCMG|KCB}} (28 July 1769{{spaced ndash}}10 January 1844) was an ] ] and ] who is best known for his time as ], where he was the "gaoler" of the ] ]. '''Sir Hudson Lowe''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCMG|KCB}} (28 July 1769{{spaced ndash}}10 January 1844) was a ] officer and colonial administrator who served as the ] from 1816 to 1821. Seeing service during the ], he is best known for serving as the ''de facto'' jailor of ] when he was in ] on ].


==Early life== ==Early life==
⚫ The son of John Lowe, an English ] in the ], he was born in ], ], his mother's native country. His childhood was spent in various military outposts, particularly in the ], but he was educated chiefly at ] ].<ref>Gregory p.17-18</ref> He obtained a post as ensign in the ] when he was eleven. In 1787 he entered his father's regiment, the ], which was then serving at ] under Governor-General ].{{sfn|Rose|1911|p=72}} In 1791, he was promoted to ]. The same year he was granted eighteen months' leave, and chose to spend the time travelling through ] rather than return to Britain. He chose to avoid travelling to France because the ] had recently broken out.<ref>Gregory p.18-19</ref>
{{further|French Revolutionary War}}
⚫ The son of John Lowe, an army ], he was born at ] in ], his mother's native country. His childhood was spent in various garrison towns, particularly in the ], but he was educated chiefly at ] ].<ref>Gregory p.17-18</ref> He obtained a post as ensign in the East ] Militia when he was eleven. In 1787 he entered his father's regiment, the ], which was then serving at ] under Governor-General ]. In 1791, he was promoted to ]. The same year he was granted eighteen months' leave, and chose to spend the time travelling through ] rather than return to Britain. He chose to avoid travelling to France because the ] had recently broken out.<ref>Gregory p.18-19</ref>


==Career== ==Career==
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Lowe arrived back at ] shortly after the outbreak of war between Britain and France in early 1793. The 50th were sent to take part in the ] which had been seized by an Allied force under ] after an invitation by ] in the city. The 50th arrived too late to assist the defence, as the Allied forces had already withdrawn from the city. They were then redirected to ], a French-owned island, where British troops had been sent to join with Corsicans under ]. Lowe's regiment served as part of ]'s force during the ] and ] driving the French from the island. The regiment was stationed in ]. Lowe volunteered to fetch supplies from ] in Italy, but nearly died of ] during the journey there.<ref>Gregory p.19-22</ref> Lowe arrived back at ] shortly after the outbreak of war between Britain and France in early 1793. The 50th were sent to take part in the ] which had been seized by an Allied force under ] after an invitation by ] in the city. The 50th arrived too late to assist the defence, as the Allied forces had already withdrawn from the city. They were then redirected to ], a French-owned island, where British troops had been sent to join with Corsicans under ]. Lowe's regiment served as part of ]'s force during the ] and ] driving the French from the island. The regiment was stationed in ]. Lowe volunteered to fetch supplies from ] in Italy, but nearly died of ] during the journey there.<ref>Gregory p.19-22</ref>


When he recovered, Lowe returned to ], and was stationed in the ] at ] as an ] to the Governor, Colonel Wauchope, close to where ]'s sisters had recently been living before they fled to mainland France.<ref>Gregory p.22</ref> In October 1796 it was decided to abandon Corsica and the force at Ajaccio was embarked and taken to ]. The following year Elba was also abandoned and Lowe was evacuated with his regiment first to Gibraltar and then to ]. He spent the next two years as part of a British force which was placed to deter an invasion by French and Spanish forces. When he recovered, Lowe returned to ], and was stationed in the ] at ] as an ] to the Governor, Colonel Wauchope, close to where ]'s sisters had recently been living before they fled to mainland France.<ref>Gregory p.22</ref> In October 1796 it was decided to abandon Corsica and the force at Ajaccio was embarked and taken to ]. The following year Elba was also abandoned and Lowe was evacuated with his regiment first to Gibraltar and then to ]. He spent the next two years as part of a British force which was placed to deter an invasion by French and Spanish forces.


Lowe later saw active service successively in ], ], and ], where he was entrusted with the command of a battalion of volunteer Corsican exiles in the British Army, the ], who were armed with ]s and trained as light infantry. In Corsica he was actually billeted in the '']''. He led the Corsican Rangers in ] in 1800–1801. Lowe later saw active service successively in ], ], and ], where he was entrusted with the command of a battalion of volunteer Corsican exiles in the British Army, the ],{{sfn|Rose|1911|pp=72–73}} who were armed with ]s and trained as light infantry. In Corsica he was actually billeted in the '']''. He led the Corsican Rangers in ] in 1800–1801.


===Napoleonic Wars=== ===Napoleonic Wars===
After the ], Lowe, now a ], became assistant quartermaster-general. On the renewal of war with France in 1803, he was charged, as a lieutenant-colonel, to raise the Corsican battalion again and with it assisted in the defense of ]. On the capture of ], he proceeded there with his battalion and a ] regiment; but in October 1808, ] ordered an attack upon the island, which was organized by ]. Lowe, owing to the unreliability of the Maltese troops and no hope of help by sea, had to agree to evacuate the island. ] criticized him, but his garrison consisted of only 1362 men, while the assailants numbered between 3000 and 4000. After the ], Lowe, now a ], became assistant quartermaster-general. On the renewal of war with France in 1803, he was charged, as a lieutenant-colonel, to raise the Corsican battalion again and with it assisted in the defense of ]. On the capture of ], he proceeded there with his battalion and a ] regiment; but in October 1808, ] ordered an attack upon the island, which was organized by ]. Lowe, owing to the unreliability of the Maltese troops and no hope of help by sea, had to agree to evacuate the island. ] criticized him, but his garrison consisted of only 1,362 men, while the assailants numbered between 3,000 and 4,000.{{sfn|Rose|1911|p=73}}


In the course of 1809, Lowe and his Corsicans helped in the capture of ] and ], as well as of ], ] and ]. For some months, he acted as governor of Cephalonia and ], and later of ]. He returned to Britain in 1812, and in January 1813, was sent to inspect a Russo-German legion then being formed. He accompanied the armies of the allies through the campaigns of 1813 and 1814, being present at thirteen important battles. He won praise from ] and ] for his gallantry and judgment. He was chosen to bear to London the news of the first abdication of ] in April 1814. In the course of 1809, Lowe and his Corsicans helped in the capture of ] and ], as well as of ], ] and ]. For some months, he acted as governor of Cephalonia and ], and later of ]. He returned to Britain in 1812, and in January 1813, was sent to inspect a Russo-German legion then being formed. He accompanied the armies of the allies through the campaigns of 1813 and 1814, being present at thirteen important battles. He won praise from ] and ] for his gallantry and judgment, and was chosen to bear to London the news of the first abdication of Napoleon in April 1814.{{sfn|Rose|1911|p=73}}


He was knighted and promoted to major-general; he also received decorations from the ]n and ]n courts. Charged with the duties of quartermaster-general of the army in the ] in 1814–1815, he was about to take part in the Belgian campaign when he was offered the command of the British troops at ]; but while still in the south of France he received (on 1 August 1815) news of his appointment to the position of custodian of ], ], who had surrendered to ] off ]. Lowe was to be Governor of ], the place of the former ]'s exile. Lowe was knighted and promoted to major-general; he also received decorations from the ]n and ]n courts. Charged with the duties of ] of the army in the ] in 1814–1815, he was about to take part in the Belgian campaign when he was offered the command of the British troops at ]; but while still in the south of France, on 1 August 1815 he received news of his appointment to the position of custodian of Napoleon, ], who had surrendered to ] ] on board ] off ]. Lowe was to be Governor of ], the place of the former ]'s exile.{{sfn|Rose|1911|p=73}}
At the time of Lowe's appointment, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, ], wrote to Wellington:<blockquote>"I do not believe we could have found a fitter person of his rank in the army willing to accept a situation of so much confinement, responsibility and exclusion from society."{{sfn|Wellesley|1864|page=56}}</blockquote> At the time of Lowe's appointment, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, ], wrote to Wellington:<blockquote>I do not believe we could have found a fitter person of his rank in the army willing to accept a situation of so much confinement, responsibility and exclusion from society.{{sfn|Wellesley|1864|page=56}}</blockquote>


===Saint Helena=== ===Saint Helena===
] ]
On his arrival at ], he found that ] had an uneasy relationship with ] ], who had been responsible for conveying Napoleon to St. Helena, and was in charge of him pending the arrival of a new Governor. Napoleon and Governor Lowe had a stormy relationship, and only met half a dozen times. To a large extent, Lowe's hands were tied by his instructions from ], but Lowe's characteristic lack of tact doubtless exacerbated the friction between them. On his arrival at ], he found that Napoleon had an uneasy relationship with ] ], who had been responsible for conveying Napoleon to St. Helena, and was in charge of him pending the arrival of a new Governor. Napoleon and Governor Lowe had a stormy relationship, and only met half a dozen times. To a large extent, Lowe's hands were tied by his instructions from ], but Lowe's characteristic lack of tact doubtless exacerbated the friction between them.


The news that rescue expeditions were being planned by Bonapartists in the ] led to the enforcement of stricter regulations in October 1816. Lowe ordered sentries to be posted round the garden of Napoleon's residence, ], at sunset instead of at 9 p.m. He assigned a British officer the task of catching sight of Napoleon every day. Lowe created a set of petty rules that included restricting Napoleon to the Longwood Estate and requiring that the British not address Napoleon by his Imperial titles but only as a general. He demanded that Napoleon pay for part of his imprisonment, so Napoleon offered up some Imperial silver for sale. This created such a backlash in Europe that the demand had to be cancelled. Then he reduced the amount of firewood for Longwood. News that Napoleon was burning his furniture to stay warm again caused such a backlash of public sympathy that the supply of firewood was restored. The news that rescue-expeditions were being planned by Bonapartists in the ] led to the enforcement of stricter regulations in October 1816. Lowe ordered sentries to be posted round the garden of Napoleon's residence, ], at sunset instead of at 9 p.m.{{sfn|Rose|1911|p=73}} He assigned a British officer the task of catching sight of Napoleon every day. Lowe created a set of petty rules that included restricting Napoleon to the Longwood Estate and requiring that the British not address Napoleon by his Imperial titles but only as a general. He demanded that Napoleon pay for part of his imprisonment, so Napoleon offered up some Imperial silver for sale. This created such a backlash in Europe that the demand had to be cancelled. Then he reduced the amount of firewood for Longwood. News that Napoleon was burning his furniture to stay warm again caused such a backlash of public sympathy that the supply of firewood was restored.


All of this and more offended Napoleon and his followers, who campaigned against Lowe. ], the ] surgeon, whilst initially providing information for Lowe, ultimately sided with Napoleon, and joined in criticisms from ] and ]. The French, Russian and Austrian commissioners on St. Helena, whilst hostile to Napoleon, were also very critical of Lowe's conduct and found it impossible to get on with him. All of this and more offended Napoleon and his followers, who campaigned against Lowe. ], the ] surgeon, while initially providing information for Lowe, ultimately sided with Napoleon, and joined in criticisms from ] and ]. The French, Russian and Austrian commissioners on St. Helena, while hostile to Napoleon, were also very critical of Lowe's conduct and found it impossible to get on with him.


In addition, modern scholars debate Lowe's role in Napoléon's death. Lowe's restriction of the former ] to what amounts to "house arrest," not just "exile," certainly affected Napoleon's exercise and general health, but some have gone so far as to suggest that Lowe may have had him poisoned. In addition, modern scholars have debated Lowe's role in Napoleon's death. Lowe's restriction of the former Emperor of the French to what amounted to ] rather than simply exile certainly affected Napoleon's ability to exercise and his general health. Some sources have gone so far as to suggest that Lowe may have had him poisoned. Napoleon himself claimed just three weeks before his death that he had been "murdered by the English oligarchy and its hired assassin".<ref>{{cite book |last=Emsley |first=John |author-link=John Emsley |date=2006 |title=The Elements of Murder: A History of Poison |location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=126 |isbn=9780191916410}}</ref> However, an autopsy conducted after his death concluded that Napoleon died from natural causes, specifically complications arising from "stomach cancer".<ref>{{cite news |last=Markel |first=Howard |date=15 August 2022 |title=How Napoleon's death in exile became a controversial mystery |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-napoleons-death-in-exile-became-a-controversial-mystery |work=PBS |location=Arlington, VA |access-date=11 June 2024}}</ref>


After the death of the Emperor Napoleon in May 1821, Lowe returned to England. On the publication of O'Meara's book, Lowe resolved to prosecute the author, but his application was too late. Ironically, O'Meara's book was softer on Lowe than what the doctor really thought of him and of his role as "executioner" at St. Helena. His true attitudes are revealed in the letters he passed clandestinely to a clerk at the Admiralty.<ref> Albert Benhamou, 2012</ref> After the death of the Emperor Napoleon in May 1821, Lowe returned to England. On the publication of O'Meara's book, Lowe resolved to prosecute the author, but his application was too late.{{sfn|Rose|1911|p=73}} Ironically, O'Meara's book was softer on Lowe than what the doctor really thought of him and of his role as "executioner" at St. Helena. His true attitudes are revealed in the letters he passed clandestinely to a clerk at the Admiralty.<ref>{{usurped|1=}} Albert Benhamou, 2012</ref>


Apart from the thanks of ], at a levee, he received little reward from the British Government, whose orders he had obeyed to the letter. His treatment of Napoleon and the subsequent public relations problems for the British Government remained an underlying issue for the rest of his career. ] ] later said that he was "a very bad choice; he was a man wanting in education and judgment. He was a stupid man. He knew nothing at all of the world, and like all men who knew nothing of the world, he was suspicious and jealous."<ref>Lord Rosebery, ''Napoleon: The Last Phase'', 1900, pp.&nbsp;68–69.</ref> Apart from the thanks of ], at a levee, he received little reward from the British Government, whose orders he had obeyed to the letter. His treatment of Napoleon and the subsequent public relations problems for the British Government remained an underlying issue for the rest of his career. ] ] later said that Lowe was "a very bad choice; he was a man wanting in education and judgment. He was a stupid man. He knew nothing at all of the world, and like all men who knew nothing of the world, he was suspicious and jealous."<ref>Lord Rosebery, ''Napoleon: The Last Phase'', 1900, pp.&nbsp;68–69.</ref>


He contributed to the abolition of slavery on the island.<ref>http://www.museumofsainthelena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Fact-sheet-Slavery.pdf</ref> One of Lowe's lesser-known accomplishments was his contribution to the abolition of slavery on the island of St. Helena.<ref>{{cite book|last1=George|first1=Barbara B.|last2=Caesar|first2=Lucinda|year=2012|title=St Helena, Slavery and the Abolition on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade|location=Saint Helena|publisher=Museum of St Helena|url=http://www.museumofsainthelena.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Fact-sheet-Slavery.pdf|page=8}}</ref>


===After Saint Helena=== ===After Saint Helena===
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In June 1822 he was appointed Colonel in Chief of the ] in place of Sir Thomas Hislop.<ref>Scottish Highlands: Highland Clans and Regiments</ref> In June 1822 he was appointed Colonel in Chief of the ] in place of Sir Thomas Hislop.<ref>Scottish Highlands: Highland Clans and Regiments</ref>


In 1825–30, he commanded the forces in ], but was not appointed to the Governorship when it fell vacant in 1830. He was appointed to the colonelcy of the ] in 1831, and in 1842 transferred to the colonelcy of his old regiment, the ]. He was also made a ].{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} In 1825–30, he commanded the forces in ] but was not appointed to the Governorship when it became vacant in 1830. He was appointed to the colonelcy of the ] in 1831, and in 1842 transferred to the colonelcy of his old regiment, the ]. He was also made a ].{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}


Lowe died at Charlotte Cottage, near Sloane Street, ], of ], on 10 Jan. 1844, aged 74.<ref name = DNB/> Lowe died at Charlotte Cottage, near ], ], of ], on 10 Jan. 1844, aged 74.<ref name = DNB/>


==Family== ==Family==
In London on 30 December 1815<ref>{{cite book|author=Desmond Gregory|title=Napoleon's Jailer: Lt. Gen. Sir Hudson Lowe : a Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DN714W48cKMC|year=1996|publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press|isbn=978-0-8386-3657-2}}</ref> Lowe married Mrs. Susan Johnson, daughter of ], sister of ], and widow of Colonel William Johnson. She had previously had two daughters, one of whom had died, and the other married Count Balmain. They had five children, two sons, Hudson Lowe, born in 1816, and ], born in 1820, and three daughters, Camilla, Francis, Clara Maria Susanna Lowe, born on 26 August 1818. Lady Lowe died in ], ], London, on 22 August 1832.<ref name = DNB>{{DNB Cite|wstitle=Lowe, Hudson}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/customsearchresults.asp?LDS=1&region=13&fathers_first_name=hudson&fathers_last_name=lowe&mothers_first_name=susan&date_range=0&date_range_index=0 |title=Free Family History and Genealogy Records — |website=Familysearch.org |access-date=2016-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607171624/http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/customsearchresults.asp?LDS=1&region=13&fathers_first_name=hudson&fathers_last_name=lowe&mothers_first_name=susan&date_range=0&date_range_index=0 |archive-date=7 June 2011}}</ref> In London on 30 December 1815<ref>{{cite book|author=Desmond Gregory|title=Napoleon's Jailer: Lt. Gen. Sir Hudson Lowe : a Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DN714W48cKMC|year=1996|publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press|isbn=978-0-8386-3657-2}}</ref> Lowe married Susan Johnson, daughter of ], sister of ], and widow of Colonel William Johnson. She had previously had two daughters, one of whom had died, and the other married Count Balmain. They had five children, two sons, Hudson Lowe, born in 1816, and ], born in 1820, and three daughters, Camilla, Francis, Clara Maria Susanna Lowe, born on 26 August 1818. Lady Lowe died in ], ], London, on 22 August 1832.<ref name = DNB>{{DNB Cite|wstitle=Lowe, Hudson}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/customsearchresults.asp?LDS=1&region=13&fathers_first_name=hudson&fathers_last_name=lowe&mothers_first_name=susan&date_range=0&date_range_index=0 |title=Free Family History and Genealogy Records — |website=Familysearch.org |access-date=2016-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607171624/http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/customsearchresults.asp?LDS=1&region=13&fathers_first_name=hudson&fathers_last_name=lowe&mothers_first_name=susan&date_range=0&date_range_index=0 |archive-date=7 June 2011}}</ref>


==Portrayals in fiction== ==Portrayals in fiction==
Sir Hudson Lowe was portrayed by ] in ]'s film '']'' (1955), by ] in '']'' (1972), by ] in '']'' (1989), by David Francis in ] (2002), and by ] in '']'' (2003). He appears in the play "La Dernière Salve" by ] (1995). He is a character in Tom Keneally’s book "]’’ (2015). Sir Hudson Lowe was portrayed by ] in ]'s film '']'' (1955), by ] in '']'' (1972), by ] in '']'' (1989), by David Francis in ] (2002), and by ] in '']'' (2003). He appears in the play ''La Dernière Salve'' by ] (1995). He is a character in Tom Keneally’s book '']'' (2015).


==References== ==References==
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;Bibliography ;Bibliography
* *
* ] ''Napoleon's Jailer: Lt. General Sir Hudson Lowe: A Life''. Associated University Presses, 1996. * ] ''Napoleon's Jailer: Lt. General Sir Hudson Lowe: A Life''. Associated University Presses, 1996.
* ], ''Napoleon: The Last Phase'', London 1900. * ], ''Napoleon: The Last Phase'', London 1900.
*{{cite book|editor1-last=Wellesley|editor1-first=Arthur Richard|editor1-link=Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington|title=Supplementary Despatches, Correspondence and Memoranda of Field Marshal Arthur Duke of Wellington KG|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIIBAAAAQAAJ|publisher=J. Murray|year=1864|volume=XI Occupation of France by the Allied Armies: Surrender of Napoleon and the Restoration of the Bourbons}} *{{cite book|editor1-last=Wellesley|editor1-first=Arthur Richard|editor1-link=Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington|title=Supplementary Despatches, Correspondence and Memoranda of Field Marshal Arthur Duke of Wellington KG|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIIBAAAAQAAJ|publisher=J. Murray|year=1864|volume=XI Occupation of France by the Allied Armies: Surrender of Napoleon and the Restoration of the Bourbons}}
;Attribution '''Attribution:'''
{{EB1911|wstitle=Lowe, Sir Hudson|volume=16|pages=72–73}} * {{EB1911|wstitle=Lowe, Sir Hudson|volume=17|last= Rose | first= John Holland |author-link= John Holland Rose |pages=72–73}}


===Further reading=== ===Further reading===
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==External links== ==External links==
* by Albert Benhamou *{{usurped|1=}} by Albert Benhamou


{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}
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Latest revision as of 17:16, 18 December 2024

British Army officer and colonial administrator (1769–1844)

SirHudson LoweGCMG KCB
Sir Hudson Lowe and his signature
Governor of Saint Helena
In office
1816–1821
Preceded byMark Wills
Succeeded byJohn Wilson
Personal details
Born28 July 1769
County Galway, Ireland
Died10 January 1844(1844-01-10) (aged 74)
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army
RankLieutenant-general
CommandsRoyal Corsican Rangers
General Officer Commanding, Ceylon

Sir Hudson Lowe, GCMG KCB (28 July 1769 – 10 January 1844) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Saint Helena from 1816 to 1821. Seeing service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, he is best known for serving as the de facto jailor of Napoleon when he was in exile on Saint Helena.

Early life

The son of John Lowe, an English surgeon in the British Army, he was born in County Galway, Ireland, his mother's native country. His childhood was spent in various military outposts, particularly in the West Indies, but he was educated chiefly at Salisbury Grammar. He obtained a post as ensign in the East Devon Militia when he was eleven. In 1787 he entered his father's regiment, the 50th Foot, which was then serving at Gibraltar under Governor-General Charles O'Hara. In 1791, he was promoted to Lieutenant. The same year he was granted eighteen months' leave, and chose to spend the time travelling through Italy rather than return to Britain. He chose to avoid travelling to France because the French Revolution had recently broken out.

Career

Corsica

Lowe arrived back at Gibraltar shortly after the outbreak of war between Britain and France in early 1793. The 50th were sent to take part in the Defence of Toulon which had been seized by an Allied force under Lord Hood after an invitation by French Royalists in the city. The 50th arrived too late to assist the defence, as the Allied forces had already withdrawn from the city. They were then redirected to Corsica, a French-owned island, where British troops had been sent to join with Corsicans under Pasquale Paoli. Lowe's regiment served as part of General Dundas's force during the Siege of Bastia and Siege of Calvi driving the French from the island. The regiment was stationed in Bastia. Lowe volunteered to fetch supplies from Livorno in Italy, but nearly died of malaria during the journey there.

When he recovered, Lowe returned to Corsica, and was stationed in the citadel at Ajaccio as an aide to the Governor, Colonel Wauchope, close to where Napoleon Bonaparte's sisters had recently been living before they fled to mainland France. In October 1796 it was decided to abandon Corsica and the force at Ajaccio was embarked and taken to Elba. The following year Elba was also abandoned and Lowe was evacuated with his regiment first to Gibraltar and then to Lisbon. He spent the next two years as part of a British force which was placed to deter an invasion by French and Spanish forces.

Lowe later saw active service successively in Elba, Portugal, and Menorca, where he was entrusted with the command of a battalion of volunteer Corsican exiles in the British Army, the Royal Corsican Rangers, who were armed with Baker rifles and trained as light infantry. In Corsica he was actually billeted in the Casa Buonaparte. He led the Corsican Rangers in Egypt in 1800–1801.

Napoleonic Wars

After the peace of Amiens, Lowe, now a Major, became assistant quartermaster-general. On the renewal of war with France in 1803, he was charged, as a lieutenant-colonel, to raise the Corsican battalion again and with it assisted in the defense of Sicily. On the capture of Capri, he proceeded there with his battalion and a Maltese regiment; but in October 1808, Joachim Murat ordered an attack upon the island, which was organized by General Lamarque. Lowe, owing to the unreliability of the Maltese troops and no hope of help by sea, had to agree to evacuate the island. Sir William Napier criticized him, but his garrison consisted of only 1,362 men, while the assailants numbered between 3,000 and 4,000.

In the course of 1809, Lowe and his Corsicans helped in the capture of Ischia and Procida, as well as of Zante, Cephalonia and Cerigo. For some months, he acted as governor of Cephalonia and Ithaca, and later of Santa Maura. He returned to Britain in 1812, and in January 1813, was sent to inspect a Russo-German legion then being formed. He accompanied the armies of the allies through the campaigns of 1813 and 1814, being present at thirteen important battles. He won praise from Blücher and Gneisenau for his gallantry and judgment, and was chosen to bear to London the news of the first abdication of Napoleon in April 1814.

Lowe was knighted and promoted to major-general; he also received decorations from the Russian and Prussian courts. Charged with the duties of quartermaster-general of the army in the Netherlands in 1814–1815, he was about to take part in the Belgian campaign when he was offered the command of the British troops at Genoa; but while still in the south of France, on 1 August 1815 he received news of his appointment to the position of custodian of Napoleon, Emperor of the French, who had surrendered to Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland on board HMS Bellerophon off Rochefort. Lowe was to be Governor of Saint Helena, the place of the former Emperor's exile.

At the time of Lowe's appointment, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Lord Bathurst, wrote to Wellington:

I do not believe we could have found a fitter person of his rank in the army willing to accept a situation of so much confinement, responsibility and exclusion from society.

Saint Helena

Sir Hudson Lowe

On his arrival at Plantation House, he found that Napoleon had an uneasy relationship with Admiral Sir George Cockburn, who had been responsible for conveying Napoleon to St. Helena, and was in charge of him pending the arrival of a new Governor. Napoleon and Governor Lowe had a stormy relationship, and only met half a dozen times. To a large extent, Lowe's hands were tied by his instructions from The 3rd Earl Bathurst, but Lowe's characteristic lack of tact doubtless exacerbated the friction between them.

The news that rescue-expeditions were being planned by Bonapartists in the United States led to the enforcement of stricter regulations in October 1816. Lowe ordered sentries to be posted round the garden of Napoleon's residence, Longwood House, at sunset instead of at 9 p.m. He assigned a British officer the task of catching sight of Napoleon every day. Lowe created a set of petty rules that included restricting Napoleon to the Longwood Estate and requiring that the British not address Napoleon by his Imperial titles but only as a general. He demanded that Napoleon pay for part of his imprisonment, so Napoleon offered up some Imperial silver for sale. This created such a backlash in Europe that the demand had to be cancelled. Then he reduced the amount of firewood for Longwood. News that Napoleon was burning his furniture to stay warm again caused such a backlash of public sympathy that the supply of firewood was restored.

All of this and more offended Napoleon and his followers, who campaigned against Lowe. Barry Edward O'Meara, the Irish surgeon, while initially providing information for Lowe, ultimately sided with Napoleon, and joined in criticisms from Las Cases and Montholon. The French, Russian and Austrian commissioners on St. Helena, while hostile to Napoleon, were also very critical of Lowe's conduct and found it impossible to get on with him.

In addition, modern scholars have debated Lowe's role in Napoleon's death. Lowe's restriction of the former Emperor of the French to what amounted to house arrest rather than simply exile certainly affected Napoleon's ability to exercise and his general health. Some sources have gone so far as to suggest that Lowe may have had him poisoned. Napoleon himself claimed just three weeks before his death that he had been "murdered by the English oligarchy and its hired assassin". However, an autopsy conducted after his death concluded that Napoleon died from natural causes, specifically complications arising from "stomach cancer".

After the death of the Emperor Napoleon in May 1821, Lowe returned to England. On the publication of O'Meara's book, Lowe resolved to prosecute the author, but his application was too late. Ironically, O'Meara's book was softer on Lowe than what the doctor really thought of him and of his role as "executioner" at St. Helena. His true attitudes are revealed in the letters he passed clandestinely to a clerk at the Admiralty.

Apart from the thanks of George IV, at a levee, he received little reward from the British Government, whose orders he had obeyed to the letter. His treatment of Napoleon and the subsequent public relations problems for the British Government remained an underlying issue for the rest of his career. Field Marshal The Duke of Wellington later said that Lowe was "a very bad choice; he was a man wanting in education and judgment. He was a stupid man. He knew nothing at all of the world, and like all men who knew nothing of the world, he was suspicious and jealous."

One of Lowe's lesser-known accomplishments was his contribution to the abolition of slavery on the island of St. Helena.

After Saint Helena

In June 1822 he was appointed Colonel in Chief of the Sutherland Highlanders in place of Sir Thomas Hislop.

In 1825–30, he commanded the forces in Ceylon but was not appointed to the Governorship when it became vacant in 1830. He was appointed to the colonelcy of the 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot in 1831, and in 1842 transferred to the colonelcy of his old regiment, the 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot. He was also made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG).

Lowe died at Charlotte Cottage, near Sloane Street, Chelsea, of paralysis, on 10 Jan. 1844, aged 74.

Family

In London on 30 December 1815 Lowe married Susan Johnson, daughter of Stephen De Lancey, sister of William Howe De Lancey, and widow of Colonel William Johnson. She had previously had two daughters, one of whom had died, and the other married Count Balmain. They had five children, two sons, Hudson Lowe, born in 1816, and Edward William Howe de Lancey Lowe, born in 1820, and three daughters, Camilla, Francis, Clara Maria Susanna Lowe, born on 26 August 1818. Lady Lowe died in Hertford Street, Mayfair, London, on 22 August 1832.

Portrayals in fiction

Sir Hudson Lowe was portrayed by Orson Welles in Sacha Guitry's film Napoléon (1955), by Ralph Richardson in Eagle in a Cage (1972), by Vernon Dobtcheff in L'Otage de l'Europe (1989), by David Francis in the Napoleon miniseries (2002), and by Richard E. Grant in Monsieur N. (2003). He appears in the play La Dernière Salve by Jean-Claude Brisville (1995). He is a character in Tom Keneally’s book Napoleon’s Last Island (2015).

References

  1. Gregory p.17-18
  2. Rose 1911, p. 72.
  3. Gregory p.18-19
  4. Gregory p.19-22
  5. Gregory p.22
  6. Rose 1911, pp. 72–73.
  7. ^ Rose 1911, p. 73.
  8. Wellesley 1864, p. 56.
  9. Emsley, John (2006). The Elements of Murder: A History of Poison. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 126. ISBN 9780191916410.
  10. Markel, Howard (15 August 2022). "How Napoleon's death in exile became a controversial mystery". PBS. Arlington, VA. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  11. Barry O'Meara's clandestine letters Albert Benhamou, 2012
  12. Lord Rosebery, Napoleon: The Last Phase, 1900, pp. 68–69.
  13. George, Barbara B.; Caesar, Lucinda (2012). St Helena, Slavery and the Abolition on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (PDF). Saint Helena: Museum of St Helena. p. 8.
  14. Scottish Highlands: Highland Clans and Regiments
  15. ^ "Lowe, Hudson" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  16. Desmond Gregory (1996). Napoleon's Jailer: Lt. Gen. Sir Hudson Lowe : a Life. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. ISBN 978-0-8386-3657-2.
  17. "Free Family History and Genealogy Records —". Familysearch.org. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
Bibliography

Attribution:

Further reading

Military offices
Preceded byJames Campbell General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
1826–? 		Succeeded byJohn Wilson
Preceded bySir George Walker Colonel of the 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot
1842–1844 		Succeeded byJohn Gardiner
Preceded byThe Lord Aylmer Colonel of the 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot
1832–1842 		Succeeded byThe Earl of Westmorland
Preceded bySir Thomas Hislop, Bt Colonel of the 93rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot
1822–1832 		Succeeded byJohn Cameron
General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
Flag of British Ceylon

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