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Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Norton, Chapple

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1415564Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 41 — Norton, Chapple1895Henry Manners Chichester

NORTON, CHAPPLE (1746–1818), general, third son of Fletcher Norton, first baron Grantley [q. v.], born in 1746, entered the 19th foot, in which regiment, then serving at Gibraltar, he became captain in June 1763. In 1769 he was promoted to a majority in the 1st royal foot, and in 1774 became captain and lieutenant-colonel in the Coldstream guards. He served with the regiment in America, and distinguished himself in February 1780 by the capture of Young's House, near White Plains, an important American post, which cut off supplies from Sir William Howe's army in New York. He became brevet-colonel in November the same year, regimental-major in 1786, major-general in 1787, lieutenant-general in 1797, and general on 29 April 1802. He was appointed colonel of the 81st regiment in 1795, and of the 56th on 24 Jan. 1797.

Norton, who is described as a good and amiable man, was a great personal friend of the Duke of York. He sat for Guildford in the parliaments of 1784–90, 1796, 1802, 1806, 1807–12, and took an active interest in all matters relating to Surrey, where the Grantley estates are chiefly situate. His last regiment, the 56th (West Essex) foot, was raised to three strong battalions towards the close of the French war, chiefly by recruits from Surrey. He died at the family seat, Wonersh, on 19 March 1818, aged 72.

[Foster's Peerage, under ‘Grantley;’ Mackinnon's Coldstream Guards, vol. i.; Army Lists; Gent. Mag. 1818, pt. i. p. 472.]