Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Power, Manley
POWER, Sir MANLEY (1773–1826), lieutenant-general, born in 1773, was son of Thomas Bolton Power, esq., of the Hill Court, near Ross, Herefordshire, by Ann, daughter of Captain Corney. His great-grandfather, John Power (d. 1712), had married Mercy, daughter of Thomas Manley of Erbistock, Denbighshire. Manley's first commission as ensign in the 20th foot was dated 27 Aug. 1783, when he was apparently between nine and ten years old. He was promoted to be lieutenant in 1789, and captain of an independent company in 1793. Transferred to the 20th foot on 16 Jan. 1794, he was promoted major in that regiment in 1799 and lieutenant-colonel in 1801.
Power saw much active service. After spending two years (1795–7) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he served with the expedition to Holland in 1799; afterwards went to Minorca in 1800, and, with his regiment, joined in Egypt, in 1801, the force commanded by Sir Ralph Abercromby [q. v.] He was present at the siege and capitulation of the French troops at Alexandria. On 25 Oct. 1802 he was placed on half-pay, but from 1803 to 1805 acted as assistant adjutant-general at the Horse Guards. On 6 June 1805 he was made lieutenant-colonel of the 32nd foot, and became colonel in the army in 1810. He took part in the Peninsular war, serving with the Duke of Wellington's army in Spain till 1813, when he was promoted major-general. He was then attached to the Portuguese army under General Beresford, and commanded a Portuguese brigade at the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle, and Orthes. For his services he received a cross and clasp, and was made knight-commander of the Portuguese order of the Tower and Sword. The honour of K.C.B. was conferred on him on 2 Jan. 1815. He subsequently served on the staff in Canada, and held the office of lieutenant-governor of Malta. He died at Berne, Switzerland, on 7 July 1826.
Power married, first, in 1802, Sarah, daughter of J. Coulson, by whom he had a son Manley (1803–1857); the latter became a lieutenant-colonel commanding the 85th regiment. He married, secondly, in 1818, Anne, daughter of Kingsmill Evans, colonel in the Grenadier guards, of Lydiart House, Monmouthshire. His eldest son by her, Kingsmill Manley Power (1819–1881), was captain in the 9th and 16th Lancers, and served with distinction in the Gwalior and Sutlej campaigns.
[Army Lists; Burke's Landed Gentry; Gent. Mag. 1826, ii. 182–3; Royal Military Calendar, iii. 312.]