Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Downman, Thomas
DOWNMAN, Sir THOMAS (1776–1852), lieutenant-general, elder son of Lieutenant-colonel Francis Downman, was nephew of John Downman [q. v.] the artist. He entered the army, after passing through the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, as a second-lieutenant in the royal artillery in April 1793. He at once joined the army in the Netherlands, and served with the guards during the campaigns of 1793 and 1794, and was present at the battles of Cateau, Lannoy, Roubaix, and Mouveaux, and was taken prisoner by the French hussars on 18 May 1794, during the retreat after the last-mentioned battle. He was exchanged in July 1795 and was appointed to the B troop royal horse artillery, and promoted captain-lieutenant in November 1797. In 1798 he was sent to the West Indies with the 3rd brigade royal artillery, and served in San Domingo until November 1800, when he was invalided and returned to England. In 1801 he was again attached to the royal horse artillery, in 1802 promoted captain, and in 1804 made captain of the A troop, royal horse artillery. In 1809 his troop was ordered to Spain with the rest of Sir David Baird's reinforcements for Sir John Moore's army, and on its arrival it was attached to the cavalry division under Major-general Lord Paget. With the cavalry he was engaged in all the brilliant actions fought by them while covering the retreat of Sir John Moore, and he was especially mentioned for his distinguished gallantry in the affairs of Sahagun and Benevente. In January 1810 he was promoted major by brevet, and in September commanded the reinforcement of artillery sent to join the English army in the lines of Torres Vedras. In December 1810 he returned to England, but in May 1811 he again joined the army in the Peninsula at Fuentes de Onoro, and was attached to the headquarters as field officer commanding all the horse artillery with the army. In this capacity he remained with the army for two years, and gave the greatest satisfaction to Wellington, which was more than his rapidly changing commanders of the field artillery could do. With the headquarters' staff and in the field with the cavalry headquarters Downman was present at the affair of Aldea da Ponte and other engagements in 1811, at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, where he was, however, not actively engaged, at the various cavalry affairs of 1812, notably at Llerena and Castrejon, at the battle of Salamanca and the advance on Madrid, and then in the advance on Burgos. During the siege of Burgos Downman commanded the artillery upon the right of the English position. He commanded the whole of the artillery, both horse and field, of the rearguard during the retreat from Burgos, where he was frequently engaged, and he was specially mentioned in Lord Wellington's despatch for his gallantry at the affair of Celada. For his services at Salamanca he received a gold medal, and he was promoted lieutenant-colonel by brevet on 17 Dec. 1812. He returned to England invalided in 1813, and handed over the command of the royal horse artillery with the army to Major (afterwards Sir) Augustus Frazer. He was appointed to the command of the royal artillery in the eastern district and then in Sussex, and was promoted lieutenant-colonel in the royal horse artillery on 20 Dec. 1814; the next year he was also made a C.B. on the extension of the order of the Bath. He was knighted in 1821, promoted colonel in 1825, major-general in Jan. 1837, lieutenant-general in Nov. 1846, and K.C.B. on 6 April 1852. He became a colonel-commandant of the royal horse artillery in 1843, was director-general of artillery in 1843–4, and was appointed to the command of the Woolwich district and garrison in 1848. He died at Woolwich, while still holding his command there, on 10 Aug. 1852.
[Royal Military Calendar, ed. 1820, iv. 437–9; Duncan's Hist. of the Royal Regiment of Artillery; Kane's List of Officers of the Royal Artillery; Sir A. S. Frazer's Letters from the Peninsula; Gent. Mag. October 1852.]