Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Guise, John Wright

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754355Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 23 — Guise, John Wright1890Henry Manners Chichester

GUISE, Sir JOHN WRIGHT (1777–1865), general, born at Elmore, Gloucestershire, on 20 July 1777, was second son of John Guise of Highnam Court, Gloucestershire, who was created a baronet in 1783 (the family baronetcy of the first creation having become extinct in 1773), and died in 1794. His mother was the daughter and heirees of Thomas Wright. He was appointed ensign 70th foot on 4 Nov. 1794, and was transferred the year after to the 3rd foot guards, now the Scots Guards, in which he became lieutenant and captain in 1798, captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1805, and regimental first major in 1814. He served with his regiment at Ferrol, Vigo, and Cadiz in 1800, in Egypt in 1801 (medal), in Hanover in 1805-6, and accompanied it to Portugal in 1809. He was present at Busaco, and commanded the light companies of the guards, with some companies of the 95th rifles attached, at Fuentes d'Onoro (Gurwood, Wellington Desp. iv. 776). He commanded the first battalion 3rd guards in the Peninsular campaigns of 1812-14, including the battle of Salamanca, the capture of Madrid, the siege of Burgos and retreat therefrom, the battle of Vittoria, passage of the Bidassoa, actions on the Nive, the passage of the Adour, and the investment of and repulse of the sortie from Bayonne, on which occasion he succeeded to the command of the second brigade of guards when Major-general Edward Stopford was wounded (gold cross and war medal). Guise became a major-general in 1819, was made C.B. in 1831, became a lieutenant-general and K.C.B. in 1841, colonel 85th light infantry in 1847, general 1851, G.C.B. 1863. He married in 1815 Charlotte Diana, daughter of John Vernon of Clontarf Castle, co. Dublin, by whom he left issue William Vernon, the fourth baronet, and other children. He succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his brother Berkeley William, the second baronet, in 1834. Guise was senior general in the 'Army List' at the time of his death, which took place at Elmore Court on 1 April 1865, at the age of 87.

[Burke's Extinct Baronetage under 'Gyse;' Foster's Baronetage under 'Guise;' Army Lists and London Gazettes; Gent. Mag. 1865, pt. i. p. 666.]

H. M. C.