Background
Charles Cornwallis Chesney was the third son of Charles Cornwallis Chesney, captain on the retired list of the Bengal Artillery, and nephew of General F. R. Chesney, was born in Ireland. He was born on September 29, 1826 in Ireland.
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Charles Cornwallis Chesney
Edit ProfileEducation
Charles Cornwallis Chesney was educated at Blundell's school, Tiverton, and afterwards at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, he obtained his first commission as second lieutenant of engineers in 1845, passing out of the academy at the head of his term.
Career
Charles Cornwallis Chesney he obtained his first commission as second lieutenant of engineers in 1845, passing out of the academy at the head of his term. His early service was spent in the ordinary course of regimental duty at home and abroad, and he was stationed in New Zealand during the Crimean War. Among the various reforms in the British military system which followed from that war was the impetus given to military education; and in 1858 Captain Chesney was appointed professor of military history at Sandhurst. In 1864 he succeeded Colonel (afterwards Sir Edward) Hamley in the corresponding chair at the Staff College. The writings of these two brilliant officers had a great influence not only at home, but on the continent and in America.
Chesney's first published work (1863) was an account of the Civil War in Virginia, which went through several editions.
In Chesney's lucid and vigorous account of the momentous struggle, while it illustrates both the strategy and tactics which culminated in the final catastrophe, the mistakes committed by Napoleon are laid bare, and for the first. time an English Writer is found to point out that the dispositions of Wellington were far from faultless.
And in the Waterloo Lectures the Prussians are for the first time credited by an English pen with their proper share in the victory.
Some of his essays on military biography, contributed mainly to the Edinburgh Review, were afterwards published separately (1874).
In 1868 he was appointed a member of the royal commission on military education, under the presidency first of Earl De Grey and afterwards of Lord Dufferin, to whose recommendations were due the improved organization of the military colleges, and the development of military education in the principal military stations of the British army.
These reports were published in a large volume, which was issued confidentially.
Never seeking regimental or staff preferment, Colonel Chesney never obtained any, but he held at the time of his death a unique position in the army, altogether apart from and above his actual place in it.
Achievements
Connections
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Born
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Died
March 19, 1876 (aged 49) -
Resting place
Sandhurst -
Nationality
British