General Sir de Lacy Evans

A carte-de-visite portrait of General Sir De Lacy Evans (1787-1870).

Sir (George) De Lacy Evans G.C.B. was a British Army general who served in four British wars during the 19th century. He was later a long-serving Member of Parliament.

Born in 1787 at Moig in County Limerick, he was educated at Woolwich Academy. He entered the British Army in 1806 as a volunteer, becoming en Ensign in the 22nd Regiment of Foot in 1807. His early service was in India, but he exchanged into the 3rd Light Dragoons in order to take part in the Peninsular war. He was sent on the expedition to the United States in 1814 during the so-called 'War of 1812' (in fact from 1812 to 1815) under Major General Robert Ross. Evans was quartermaster general to Ross at the Battle of Bladensburg on 24 August 1814, and during the Burning of Washington, as well as at the Battle of North Point on 12 September 1814, where Ross was killed.

Returning to the European war with the restoration of Emperor Napoleon I, Evans was present at the battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815 and the battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815.

He commanded the British Legion which volunteered to assist Isabella II of Spain in the First Carlist War. During the Crimean War he commanded the 2nd Division of the British Army.

He served as a Member of Parliament for Rye in 1830, and from 1831 to 1832, and for Westminster from 1833 to 1841 and again from 1846 to 1865.

General Sir de Lacy Evans died on 9 January 1870 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Photographed on 6 August 1861 by Camille Silvy of London.