Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley
Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley, KP, GCB, OM, GCMG, VD, PC (4 June 1833 – 25 March 1913), was an Anglo-Irish officer in the British Army. He became one of the most influential and admired British generals after a series of successes in Canada, West Africa and Egypt, followed by a central role in modernizing the British Army in promoting efficiency.
The Right Honourable The Viscount Wolseley | |
|---|---|
Wolseley in 1895 | |
| 8th Commander-in-Chief of the British Army | |
| In office 1 November 1895 – 3 January 1901 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Prime Minister | Marquess of Salisbury |
| Preceded by | Prince George, Duke of Cambridge |
| Succeeded by | Lord Frederick Roberts |
| Governor of Transvaal | |
| In office 29 September 1879 – 27 April 1880 | |
| Preceded by | Owen Lanyon |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished The Viscount Milner (1901) |
| Governor of the Gold Coast | |
| In office 2 October 1873 – 4 March 1874 | |
| Preceded by | Robert William Harley |
| Succeeded by | James Maxwell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Garnet Joseph Wolseley 4 June 1833 Golden Bridge House, Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 25 March 1913 (aged 79) London, England |
| Resting place | St. Paul's Cathedral, London |
| Awards | Knight of the Order of St Patrick Member of the Order of Merit Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Volunteer Decoration Mentioned in Despatches Order of the Medjidie (Ottoman Empire) Order of Osmanieh (Ottoman Empire) Legion of Honour (France) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom Egypt |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1852–1900 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Commands | Commander-in-Chief of the Forces Commander-in-Chief, Ireland Adjutant-General to the Forces Quartermaster-General to the Forces |
| Battles/wars |
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Wolseley is considered to be one of the most prominent and decorated war heroes of the British Empire during the era of New Imperialism. He served in Burma, the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, China, Canada and widely throughout Africa—including his Ashanti campaign (1873–1874) and the Nile Expedition against Mahdist Sudan in 1884–85. Wolseley served as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces from 1895 to 1900. His reputation for efficiency led to the late 19th century English phrase "everything's all Sir Garnet", meaning, "All is in order."