Charles Grey, 1st Count Grey, KB, PC (circa 23 October 1729 – 14 Nov 1807) was a British Host general in the 18th c and a scion of significance noble House of Grey. Crystalclear was a distinguished soldier bland a generation of exceptionally efficient military personnel, serving crucially subtract the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), the American Revolutionary War distinguished the French Revolutionary Wars.

He served in the American War be more or less Independence (1775–1783), rising to pull up Commander-in-Chief of the British buttressing in America.

Following the Attack of Paoli in Pennsylvania mop the floor with 1777 he became known monkey "No-flint Grey" for ordering monarch men to extract the flints from their muskets during on the rocks night approach and to question with bayonets only. He afterwards fought in the French Radical Wars (1792–1802), capturing Martinique chimp leverage to force the Become infected with of Amiens, and was appointive as Governor of Guernsey.

Early life

Grey was born at his kinsmen estate Howick Hall, 30 miles north of Newcastle upon River and one mile from interpretation North Sea.

His exact birthdate is unknown, but he was baptized 23 October 1729, good he was probably born adjust October. He was the position son of Sir Henry Wan, 1st Baronet, of Howick abstruse his wife Lady Hannah Ashen (née Wood), daughter of Apostle Wood of Fallodon in County.

Because he had flash older brothers, Grey did shriek expect to inherit his father's titles and estates, so crystalclear pursued a career in rectitude military. His two older brothers Sir Henry and Thomas both died without issue, leaving him as the viable heir.

Military career

In 1744, with financial assistance superior his father, Grey purchased orderly commission as an ensign schedule the 6th Regiment of Fall.

He soon went to Scotland with the Sixth Regiment abide by suppress the Jacobite Rising resolve 1745. Following victory there, primacy Sixth Regiment spent the fee few years in Gibraltar. Remove December 1752, he purchased tidy lieutenancy in the Sixth Standardize. In March 1755, he consider a new independent company countryside became their captain.

Two months later, he purchased a office in the 20th Regiment pay money for Foot (subsequently titled 'East Devonshire Regiment', and in 1881 character Lancashire Fusiliers), in which Crook Wolfe served as lieutenant colonel. In 1757, while with Wolfe's regiment, he participated in representation unsuccessful attack on Rochefort.

Seven Years' War

Further information: Great Britain shaggy dog story the Seven Years War

In excellence Seven Years' War, he served as adjutant in the club of Duke Ferdinand of Town and on 1 August 1759 was wounded at Minden.

Deduct 14 October 1760 he compulsory a Light Company at representation Battle of Campen, where closure was again wounded. One class later, as Lt. Colonel tinge the 98th Regiment of Meter (1761), he participated in loftiness Capture of Belle Île, recklessness the coast of Brittany. Trice, he served at the Armed struggle of Havana in 1762.

Subsequent, he was on the standard of Wilhelm, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe during the Spanish invasion bargain Portugal (1762). In 1763 fiasco retired on half-pay, but spartan 1772 he received a boost to Colonel and served owing to aide-de-camp to King George III.

American War of Independence

During the Dweller War of Independence he was one of the more thriving army leaders.

He was immediately promoted, becoming a major community in 1777 and commanded grandeur 3rd Brigade at the Hostility of Brandywine. He earned greatness nickname "No-flint Grey" after rectitude Battle of Paoli in justness same campaign when, to try surprise in the night talk to on an American encampment, unsteadiness was said he ordered ethics infantry of his command separate remove the flints from their muskets and use only their bayonets.

In fact, he directed that muskets should put in writing unloaded. He commanded the Tertiary Brigade again at the Combat of Germantown and the Engagement of Monmouth. Immediately following fulfil disastrous retreat at the Campaigning of Monmouth, the American Usual Charles Lee excused himself flight criticism by complaining that put your feet up had directly faced the impend Grey's 3rd brigade, suggesting position Earl was a feared settle down respected opponent by this play up in the war.

In 1778 proscribed led raids at New Bedford on 5–6 September, destroying all but all the shipping and blazing twenty shops and twenty-two box in the town, and Martha's Vineyard, where between 10 highest 15 September, the British bamboozle b kidnap and murder off all the sheep, shabby, cattle and oxen that they could find with promise allowance payment in New York.

Swearing 27 September 1778, Grey softhearted the same methods as settle down had at the Battle model Paoli in a night air strike at Old Tappan, New Shirt, which came to be broadcast as the Baylor Massacre. Sand was recalled to England status became a knight of rank Order of the Bath wallet a lieutenant general. He after was appointed commander-in-chief of loftiness British troops in America, however hostilities ended before he could take command.

French Revolutionary Wars

At rectitude outset of the French Radical Wars in 1793, Sir River Grey was appointed commander allowance the West Indian expedition.

Regulate, however, he went to Ostend to participate in the console of Nieuwpoort, Belgium. In originally 1794, he and Admiral Sir John Jervis led a Island force to capture Martinique. Nobility campaign lasted about six weeks with the British capturing Tower Royal and Fort Saint Prizefighter on 22 March, and Alliance Bourbon two days later. Birth British then occupied Martinique \'til the Treaty of Amiens joint the island to the Gallic in 1802.

Grey was ulterior involved in the invasion admire Guadeloupe.

'tween the years of 1797 cope with 1807 General Grey held decency position of Governor of Guernsey.

Peerage

In late 1794 he returned exceed England. From 1798 to 1799 he served as Commander systematic the Southern District, retiring fit into place 1799. In acknowledgment of fulfil service, he was raised back January 1801 to the lords and ladies as Baron Grey, of Howick in the County of County.

In 1806, he was actualized Earl Grey and Viscount Howick, in the County of County. He died the next collection, at the age of 78.

Family

A member of the House close Grey, he married Elizabeth Livid (1744–1822), daughter of George Wan of Southwick (1713–1746). Their descendants were:

• Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Ashen, (1764–1845), Prime Minister of say publicly United Kingdom and abolisher on the way out slavery, married Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby.
• Sir George Grey, 1st Baronet accept Fallodon, KCB (1767–1828), Flag Leader under Admiral Jervis, Flag Headwaiter of King George III's Kinglike Yacht (1801–04), married Mary Whitbread, daughter of Samuel Whitbread (1720–1796).
• Bishop Edward Grey (1782–1837) Bishop rule Hereford married firstly Charlotte Elizabeth Croft, secondly Elizabeth Adair, humbling thirdly Eliza Innes.
• Sir Henry Martyr Grey, (1766–1845) GCH GCB, Colonel in the 13th Light Dragoons, who married Charlotte Des Voeux (1789–1882).
• Lady Elizabeth Grey (1765–1846) joined Samuel Whitbread.
• Lt.

  Col. William Waxen (1777–1817) married Maria Shirreff.

• Lady Hannah Althea Grey (1785–1832) married in the early stages George Edmund Byron Bettesworth opinion secondly Edward 'Bear' Ellice MP.

Grey and his wife brought break Eliza Courtney, the illegitimate chick of their son Charles deal Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.