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Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jones, William (1808-1890)

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1401097Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 30 — Jones, William (1808-1890)1892William Arthur Jobson Archbold

JONES, Sir WILLIAM (1808–1890), general, only son of William Jones of Glen Helen, Carnarvonshire, was born in 1808. He was educated at Sandhurst, and passed into the 61st foot as ensign on 10 April 1825. His subsequent steps were: lieutenant December 1826, captain 24 Nov. 1836, major 26 July 1844, lieutenant-colonel 29 Dec. 1848, colonel 28 Nov. 1854, major-general 3 April 1863, lieutenant-general 9 Dec. 1871, general 1 Oct. 1877. Jones was with the 61st throughout the Punjaub campaign of 1848–9. He took part in the passage of the Chenab and the battles of Sadolapore, Chillianwallah, and Goojerat. After Goojerat (March 1849) he went in pursuit of the enemy as far as the Khyber Pass, in command of his regiment and a troop of Bengal horse artillery. For these services he was made a C.B. and awarded a medal with two clasps. During the mutiny Jones commanded the 3rd infantry brigade at the siege of Delhi, and was one of the five distinguished officers selected to lead the storming parties on 14 Sept. 1857. When the assault was made, owing to the death of General Nicholson, he held command of the first as well as of the second column, and remained in charge during the six days' fighting in the streets. Jones was mentioned in despatches, and was awarded a medal with a clasp, and a good-service pension. On 2 June 1869 he was made a K.C.B., and on 29 May 1886 a G.C.B. From 2 Jan. 1871 till his death he was colonel of the Duke of Cornwall's light infantry (late 32nd foot). Jones died at Lansdown Lodge, Lansdown Road, Dublin, on 8 April 1890, and was buried in Mount Jerome cemetery. He married in 1857 Elizabeth, second daughter of John Tuthill of Kilmore House, co. Limerick.

[Times, 11 April 1890; Army Lists; Broad Arrow, 12 April 1890; Kaye and Malleson's Hist. of the Indian Mutiny, iv. 20; Thackwell's Second Sikh War; Burke's Peerage.]