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Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pilkington, Andrew

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1168109Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 45 — Pilkington, Andrew1896William Broadfoot

PILKINGTON, Sir ANDREW (1767?–1853), general, born about 1767, obtained his first commission in the army on 7 March 1783, and was promoted lieutenant 24 Jan. 1791, captain 2 March 1795, major 31 March 1804, lieutenant-colonel 5 Oct. 1809, colonel 12 Aug. 1819, major-general 22 July 1830, lieutenant-general 23 Nov. 1841.

Pilkington saw much and varied service. With the Channel fleet in 1793–4 he commanded a company of the Queen's Royals on board the Royal George on ‘the glorious first of June’ 1794, when Lord Howe defeated the French off Ushant. Pilkington received two splinter wounds. He was next employed in the West Indies, and was present at the capture of Trinidad, 1795–7. He served in Ireland in the suppression of the rebellion in 1798, and was with the expeditions to the Helder in 1799 and 1805. He was severely wounded in the defence of the Kent, East Indiaman, against a large French privateer in 1800, on his passage to India. He served on the staff at the Horse Guards in 1807–8, and in Nova Scotia from 1809 to 1815. During the latter period he commanded several successful expeditions. He reduced the islands in Passamaquody Bay, between New Brunswick and Maine, U.S. He was created K.C.B. on 19 July 1838. He died on 23 Feb. 1853 at his residence, Catsfield Place, Battle, Sussex, which he had purchased from James Eversfield, esq.

Sir Andrew married at Hayes, on 9 May 1808, Maria Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Vicary Gibbs [q. v.], who survived him, with two daughters, Maria Georgina, married to Burrell Hayley, rector of Catsfield in Sussex, on 18 July 1848, and Louisa Elizabeth, married on 1 Sept. 1853 to Richard Thomas Lee.

[Hart's Army List, 1852; Gent. Mag. 1838 ii. 317, 1853 i. 436; Royal Military Calendar, iv. 262; Times, 1 March, 1853; Lower's Hist. of Sussex, pp. 95–6; Burke's Knightage, 1839 et seq.]