William Amherst (British Army officer)

Lieutenant-General William Amherst (5 February 1732 – 13 May 1781) was a British Army officer and politician. During the Seven Years' War, he led British forces that recaptured St. John's, Newfoundland from the French at the 1762 Battle of Signal Hill.

William Amherst
Portrait of Amherst
Born	(1732-03-05)5 March 1732 Sevenoaks, Kent
Died	13 May 1781(1781-05-13) (aged 49) England
Allegiance	Great Britain
Branch	British Army
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Battles / wars	Seven Years' War
Relations	William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst (son) Elizabeth Amherst Hale (daughter)

Early life

William Amherst was born, in Sevenoaks, Kent, into a family of lawyers.^[1] He married Elizabeth Amherst (Patterson). Their children included:

• William Pitt Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst of Arracan, GCH, PC, a future Governor-General of India^[2]
• Elizabeth Frances Amherst

Seven Years' War

Further information: Great Britain in the Seven Years' War

Amherst was commissioned as an ensign in the First Regiment of Foot Guards in 1755.^[2] He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant general in 1779.^[2] As a lieutenant colonel, Amherst was instrumental in the re-capture of St. John's from the French in 1762 at the Battle of Signal Hill.^[2] An area near Signal Hill at the entrance of St. John's harbour is named "Fort Amherst" in commemoration of his victory in 1762.

In 1766 he became Member of Parliament for Hythe,^[3] and in 1768 he became MP for Launceston until 1774.^[4]

In 1769 he built a house in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight. He named the house and estate St John's, after his victory in Newfoundland. The neighborhood of Ryde that surrounds the house is still known by that name.^[5]

He was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1778:^[6] he died while serving in that role in 1781.^[7]