Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick English
Biography and letters of Lt Col Frederick English, Royal Engineers
The Bocas strait separates Trinidad from the coast of Venezuela. English spells it ‘Boags’.
The Governor of Trinidad, Sir George Fitzgerald Hill, had died on 8 March.
Trinidad had been ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Paris in 1814, having been previously colonised by the Dutch, Spanish and French. Following a disastrous fire, the first British Governor, Sir Ralfe Woodford, employed ...
The Governor of Grenada was Colonel Carlo Joseph Doyle.
Your charming letter my dear Kate dated 1st March reached its destination last night as all our party assembled on board preparatory to quitting Antigua having completed our business at that station, and we left the Island this morning about seven, but I have been so employed this morning and feel so fearful that a letter will not ...
Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s latest engineering triumph, the first transatlantic steamship SS Great Western, powered both by steam paddles and sails, had made her maiden voyage just a year ago. She could complete the eastbound voyage in 14 days.
Well my dear Kate, have you got that slow coach under weigh yet? I sincerely trust you have and that he is on the wide sea with the prospect of a glorious ...
Sir Francis Bond Head, a Royal Engineer, was probably personally known to English as both had served in the Waterloo campaign and the occupation following it. He had just retired as Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, and published A Narrative about his administration there.
The General’s breakfast over his maps of India reflects his close interest in northern India where he had served from ...
Not dated, but written on 18 May 1839.
Your letter of the 15th April signed your ‘miserable and wretched wife Catherine English’ wherein you state my dear Kate that you had such a wretched dream about me is now under my left hand. Your worthy maid Janet will solve the said dream, as always going by contraries. Thus some good luck attends us, it is to be hoped. Altogether your letter ...
Falmouth had a fast mail service to other parts of England because packet ships from all over the world landed the mail here. We cannot tell whether English or the letter reached Wickham first, but the postmark ‘Falmouth 20 July’ confirms that his ship anchored in time to catch the post.
On the chance my dear Kate that the good Brigantine Seagull will anchor in Falmouth roads this evening in ...