Lieutenant William Cannon, 94th Foot, who was mentioned in despatches for his conduct at the defence of Fort Matagorda in 1810, was severely wounded at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo and slightly wounded at Vittoria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 7 clasps, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse (W. Cannon, Subtn. 94th Foot.) polished, nearly very fine £3000-3500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Napoleonic War Medals.

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Provenance: Spink, July 1996.

William Cannon was born in the Parish of Buittle, Galloway, Scotland, on 10 March 1784. He was appointed an Ensign in the 94th Foot on 10 August 1807, and promoted to Lieutenant on 7 April 1810.

In his 1829 Statement of Service, Cannon states that he ’was present as Ensign with the 94th Foot at the Siege of Fort Matagorda in front of Cadiz in 1810, during the tremendous bombardment that lasted for two months under the command of Captain M’Lean 94th Foot commanding the said fort. With the 94th in the Lines of Torres Vedras before the commencement of the Retreat of the French army, and with my Regt. following up the Enemy’s Retreat.

Was present as Lieut. in the 94th at the Battle of Fuentes D’Onor, 1st Siege of Badajoz from June 6th to June 14th 1811, affair of El Boden, Storm of Ciudad Rodrigo, Battles of Salamanca, Vittoria & Pyrenees. Entrance into France Novr. 10th 1813 & at the Battles of Orthes and Toulouse. The various affairs in which the 3rd Division were engaged under Sir Thomas Picton and which are not termed General Actions I was also present with.’

Furthermore, ‘My Conduct at at the Siege of Fort Matagorda was published in General Orders and in the Dispatches sent to England by Lieut. General Sir Thomas Graham... Was severely wounded under the chest at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo on the 19th January 1812, for which I received one years pay as Captain having had a Command of a Company that Evening, also slightly wounded in the cap of the right knee at the Battle of Vittoria on the 21st June 1813.’

Cannon was placed on half pay of the regiment on 25 December 1818. He was appointed to the 97th Foot on 25 March 1824, becoming Captain in April 1825, and Brevet Major in June 1838. He was promoted to Major in the 97th in October 1841 and retired on the full pay of it on 27 September 1842. Major Cannon died at Maxwelltown, Dumfriesshire, on 15 November 1851.

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