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General Sir Charles Wale (August 16 1765–20 March 1845) was an English soldier and the last British governor of Martinique.
He became Colonel of the 33rd (The Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot on 25 February 1831. Charles Wale was the last British governor of Martinique between about 1812 and 1815. He was responsible for capturing Guadeloupe from the French and was given the governorship in recognition of this.

Contents

Parents

Early Life

Marriage and children

Monuments

References

Other Sources

Parents

His father was Thomas Wale and his mother Louisa Rudolphina Prediger Raften (who came from Riga). Charles's older sister Mary married a Thomas Pemberton of Trinity College, Cambridge and it is interesting that there is a pub called The Pemberton Arms nearby in Harston.

Early Life

Wale studied in London and began his military career in 1779 with the 88th foot under Colonel Keating. He initially served in Jamaica and in 1780 became a lieutenant in the 97th. With his new regiment he sailed to Gibraltar with Vice-Admiral George Darby's fleet in 1781 and participated in the latter part of the defence of Gibraltar during the Siege of Gibraltar.
He later went onto serve in Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Cambridgeshire Militia. In 1799 he participated in the expedition to The Helder. He also served again in Jamaica and in Bengal.

Marriage and children

Charles married Louisa Sherard in 1793. She died in 1896. They had six children. Charles married a total of three times. He had twelve children including author the Reverend Henry John Wale M.A. and Frederick Wale (1822–1858) who was present at the relief of Lucknow and command of the 1st Sikh irregular cavalry ('Wale's horse')^[1].

Monuments

The following summary of the life of Charles Wale comes from the Charles Wale Memorial in All Saints parish church, Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire:

"Sacred to the memory of General Sir Charles Wale KCB Colonel of HM 33rd Regiment of Foot Born August 16 1765 Died March 20 1845
Aged 81 Years He was the youngest son of Thomas Wale of this parish. He entered the army in 1779 and served at the siege and bombardment of Gibraltar by the French and Spaniards in 1801-1802-1803 and subsequently in Holland, Ireland & India. In February 1810 at the head of his brigade the Royal York Rangers he decided the capture of the island of Guadeloupe from the French by carrying in person the almost inaccessible heights of Matauba for which service in which he was severely wounded he received a medal and was made governor of Martinique till the peace 1814 when for his services during the war he was made Knight Commander of the Bath. True to the device and motto of his ancestors he displayed in bold relief the courage and energy of a Christian whose only shield and hope is salvation by the cross. Sr Charles Wale was thrice married. Firstly — to Louisa daughter of Revd Castel Sherard by whom he had issue five children Thomas Sherard who died unmarried at Surinam 1821 Charles and Philip Newton and Louisa who died in infancy
and Alexader Malcolm Vicar of Sunninghil Berks (who in 1835 married Caroline Ardrighetti and had issue four daughters), The said Louisa died at Shelford 1806. Secondly — in 1808 to Isabella daughter of Revd Geo. Johnson BD Prebendary of Lincoln and had issue Isabella Martha married in 1834 to Sherlock Willis Esq The above named Isabella Wale died at Barbados 1810, Thirdly — in 1815 to Henrietta duaghter & coheiress of Revd Tho: Brent by whom he had issue six sons Cha. Brent born 1817 Rob. Gregory 1820 George Henry & Frederick twins born Geneva 1822 Arthur 1825 and Henry John 1827 and four daughters.

References

1. Robyn's Relative Research

Other Sources

★ My Grandfather's Pocket Book. From A.D. 1701 to 1796, Reverend Henry John Wale M.A., , , Chapman and Hall, ,

★ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography