Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Grey, John (1780?-1856)
GREY, Sir JOHN (1780?–1856), lieutenant-general, colonel of the 5th fusiliers, was younger son of Charles Grey of Morwick Hall, Northumberland, and grandson of John Grey of Howick, youngest brother of Charles, first earl Grey [q. v.] He entered the army on 18 Jan. 1798 as ensign of the 75th foot, and became lieutenant on 8 May 1799. He served with the 75th in the war against Tippoo Sahib, including the battle of Malavelly and the storming and capture of Seringapatam (medal). He became captain in the 15th battalion, army of reserve, 31 Oct. 1803, exchanged to 82nd foot the year after, became major 9th garrison battalion 27 Nov. 1806, and exchanged to 5th foot, with the 2nd battalion of which he served in the Peninsula at the combat of El Bodon, the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, including the scaling of the faussebraie and storming of the greater breach, which was carried by the 2nd-5th, during which operations he was twice wounded, and in the action at Fuente Guinaldo (Peninsular medal). He became lieutenant-colonel in 1812, and commanded the 2nd battalion of his regiment at home until it was disbanded in 1816. After many years on half-pay, Grey, who became a major-general in 1838, was appointed to a divisional command in Bengal, which he held from 1840 to 1845. At the head of the left wing of the `army of Gwalior' he defeated a force of twelve thousand Mahrattas at Punniar on 29 Dec. 1843, on which day the main body of the Mahratta army was defeated and broken by Gough at Maharajpore. For this service Grey was made K.C.B. He was commander-in-chief and second member of the council at Bombay in 1850-2.
Grey was appointed colonel of the 5th or Northumberland fusiliers on 18 May 1849, and became a lieutenant-general in 1851. He married in 1830 Rosa Louisa, only daughter of Captain Sturt, royal navy, by whom he had no issue. His elder brother (Charles Grey, captain 85th foot, killed at New Orleans in 1815) having predeceased him, the Morwick branch of the Greys of Howick became extinct at Grey's death, which took place at Morwick Hall on 19 Feb. 1856
[Hart's Army Lists; Cannon's Hist. Rec. 5th or Northumberland Fusiliers; Gent. Mag. 1856, pt. i. 424.]