Thomas Arbuthnot (1776-1849)

Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot KCB (11 September 1776 – 26 January 1849 ) was a British Army commander.

Military career
He was born in Rockfleet, Co Mayo, Ireland, the sixth son of John Arbuthnot, Sr of Rockfleet. He entered the British Army in 1794, as an ensign in the 29th Regiment of Foot. After serving in that and other regiments, he joined the staff corps under Sir John Moore in 1803. He subsequently served as quartermaster-general at the Cape of Good Hope, whence, in 1808, he joined the army in the Iberian Peninsula. He was assistant quartermaster-general to General Picton's division during the greater part of the Peninsular War. He was twice wounded, once in the West Indies and again in one of the latest actions in the Peninsula.

He was appointed an aide-de-camp to the Prince Regent in 1814, and a K.C.B. in 1815. Promoted major-general in 1825, he was sent next year to Portugal in command of a brigade. He afterwards commanded a district in Ireland, and having attained the rank of lieutenant-general in 1838, was appointed, in 1842, to the command of the Northern and Midland Districts in England, which command he retained until his death.

He died unmarried at his residence in The Crescent, Salford.

Family
He was brother of General Sir Robert Arbuthnot, KCB and Charles Arbuthnot and bishop Alexander Arbuthnot. He was uncle of Sir Alexander John Arbuthnot, Major General George Bingham Arbuthnot and Lieutenant General Sir Charles George Arbuthnot.