Major-General Norcliffe Norcliffe

A carte-de-visite portrait of Major-General Norcliffe Norcliffe (1791-1862).

The following obituary appeared in The York Herald (15 February 1862):

‘We regret to announce the death of Major-General Norcliffe Norcliffe, of Langton Hall, near Malton, which took place in London, on the 8th inst., after three days illness. This gallant officer entered the Army in 1807, when only fifteen years of age, as cornet in the 4th dragoons; served in the Peninsula, and was engaged in the battles of Talavera, Busacs, Albuhera, and Salamanca, in which last he was severely wounded and taken prisoner. He became Lieutenant in 1808, Captain 1816, Major 1821, and in 1822 exchanged into the 17th Lancers. In 1823 he went on half pay into the 18th Hussars; became Lieutenant Colonel in 1837, Colonel in 1851, and Major General in 1855. His loss will be severely felt by the poor, by an attached tenantry, and by a wide circle of relations and friends. The General, who was born 24th September 1791, married 24th June 1824, Decima Hester Beatrix, third daughter of John Robinson Foulis, Esq., second son of Sir William Foulis, Bart., and by her (who died 3rd February, 1828) he had one son, Thomas, born 17th June, 1825, who died in his 20th year. The General being childless at his death, the estates pass to the family of the late Henry Robinson, Esq., of this city. The remains of the deceased General were interred on Thursday, in the cemetery at Kensall [sic] Green, London, in a vault by the side of his son. The corpse was followed to the grave by Lord Clyde and several other military friends of distinction, and a long train of mourning relatives and friends.’

Photographed on 16 February 1861 by Camille Silvy of London.