Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Haythorne, Edmund
HAYTHORNE, Sir EDMUND (1818–1888), general, son of John Haythorne of Hill House, Gloucester, was born in 1818. He was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and in 1837 received an ensigncy in the 98th foot, in which he got his company in 1844. Under the command of Colin Campbell, afterwards lord Clyde [q. v.], Haythorne went with the 98th to China in 1841, and was present with it in the expedition to the northward in 1842, including the operations on the Yang-tse-kiang, the attack and capture of Ching-keang-foo, and the operations before Nanking. He was Colin Campbell's brigade-major at Chusan from July 1843 until the island was given up to the Chinese authorities, and afterwards his aide-de-camp in the second Sikh war, when he commanded the third division of Gough's army, at the passage of the Chenab, the battles of Sadoolapore, Chillianwalla, and Goojerat, and the pursuit of the Afghan contingent to the mouth of the Khyber Pass (medal and clasps). As a brevet-major he commanded the flank companies of the 98th at the forcing of the Kohat Pass, under Sir Charles Napier, in 1850, during which service he commanded a detached column which destroyed two villages and forts. In 1851 he was again aide-de-camp to Colin Campbell in the operations against the Momund tribe, on the north-west frontier (medal). He became major 98th foot in 1853, and lieutenant-colonel in 1854. In June 1855 he exchanged to the 1st royals, went out to the Crimea with drafts, and assumed command of the first battalion of the regiment, with which he was present at the siege and fall of Sebastopol (medal and clasp). Afterwards he was brigade-major of the highland brigade under Colin Campbell at Balaclava. On the evacuation of the Crimea Haythorne returned home, and subsequently proceeded to Hongkong, in command of the second battalion of his regiment. In 1859 he was nominated chief of the staff of the army forming there for service in the north of China, and had the sole responsibility of the organisation of the force until the arrival of Sir James Hope Grant [q. v.] in March 1860. Haythorne's services were several times mentioned in despatches, and were especially recognised by Lord Herbert, the secretary of state for war, when proposing a vote of thanks to the China troops (Parl. Debates, 3rd ser. clxi. 366–75). Haythorne was adjutant-general in Bengal from 1860 to 1865, when he went on half-pay. His old chief Clyde spoke with affection of him on his deathbed: ‘Remember me to Sutherland—and to Haythorne. Good Haythorne, brave Haythorne, as modest as he is brave’ (Shadwell, ii. 470).
Haythorne became a major-general in 1868, and K.C.B. in 1873. In 1879 he was made a full general, and was appointed colonel 1st battalion Hampshire regiment (late 67th foot). He married, in 1862, Eliza, fourth daughter of the late J. Thomas of Bletsoe Castle, Bedfordshire. He died at Silchester House, Reading, on 18 Oct. 1888.
[Dod's Knightage; Army Lists and London Gazettes, under dates; L. Shadwell's Life of Lord Clyde, London, 1881.]