Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Daubeney, Henry Charles Barnston
DAUBENEY, Sir HENRY CHARLES BARNSTON (1810–1903), general, born at Ripon, Yorkshire, on 19 Dec. 1810, was eldest son of lieut.-general Henry Daubeney, K. H., by his first cousin, Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Daubeny [q. v.], archdeacon of Sarum. Educated at Sandhurst, he entered the army as ensign of the 55th foot (later 2nd battalion Border regiment) in 1829. He served in that corps for thirty years until he attained the rank of colonel. In the Coorg campaign, in South India (1832-4), he served with his regiment with the northern column under Colonel Waugh; he was present at the assault and capture of the stockade of Kissenhully, and at the attack on that of Soamwarpettah. There he was in charge of one of the two guns attached to the column, and by his perseverance saved it from capture during the retreat. The British losses amounted to three officers and forty-five men killed and 118 men wounded, but the Rajah of Coorg, who was opposing the British advance, was defeated and deposed on 5 April 1834. Daubeney served with his regiment during the Chinese war of 1841-2, and as a captain commanded the light company at the repulse of the enemy's night attack at Chinhae, and at the storm and capture of Chapou (18 May 1842). He was on the staff as major of brigade to Sir James Schoedde at Woosung, Shanghai, and Chin-Kiang, and was twice mentioned in despatches. He received the medal, was promoted brevet major on 23 Dec. 1842, and was made C.B. on 24 Dec. 1842. Becoming major (25 Nov. 1845) he went through the Crimean campaign of 1854. On 26 Oct. 1854 he helped to repulse the sortie of the Russians from Sevastopol. At Inkerman, on 5 Nov. 1854, Daubeney, at the head of thirty men of his regiment, executed a flank charge; without firing a shot he forced his way through the attacking Russian column, and by this manœuvre compelled the enemy's battalions to fall back in confusion. He was commended in despatches and was gazetted to a substantive lieut.-colonelcy on 12 Dec. 1854 for his services at Inkerman, but he declined a promotion which would have removed him from the seat of war and placed him on half pay, while his regiment was serving in the field. General Sir John Pennefather recommended him for the Victoria Cross, but being a regimental field officer he was held to be ineligible according to existing rules. He received next year the reward for distinguished service, the medal with three clasps, the legion of honour, and the fourth class of the order of the Medjidie. From 1858 to 1869 he was inspector of army clothing. Promoted major-general on 6 March 1868 and lieut.-general on 1 Oct. 1877, he was nominated K.C.B. on 30 May 1871, was appointed colonel of his regiment on 3 Feb. 1879, became general on 4 March 1880, and was promoted G.C.B. on 24 March 1884.
On his retirement from active service in 1880 Daubeney resided at Osterley Lodge, Spring Grove, Isleworth, where he died on 17 Jan. 1903. He was thrice married: (1) in 1840, to Amelia (d. 1857), only child of Samuel Davy Liptrap of Southampton, by whom he had two sons; (2) in 1859 to Henrietta Anne (d. 1876), only daughter of Charles Jacomb of Upper Clapton, Middlesex; and (3) in 1878 to Eliza, second daughter of Charles Carpenter of Brunswick Square, Brighton.
[Burke's Landed Gentry, s.v. Daubeney of Cote; A. W. Kinglake, The Invasion of the Crimea, 6th edit. 1877, vi. 336-49; Dod's Knightage; Hart's and Official Army Lists.]