Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Disney, Moore
DISNEY, Sir MOORE (1766?–1846), general, eldest son of Moore Disney, esq., of Churchtown, co. Waterford, one of the Irish descendants of the family of Disney of Norton Disney in Northamptonshire, entered the army as an ensign in the 1st Grenadier guards on 17 April 1783. He served in America for the last few months of the American war of independence, and was promoted lieutenant and captain on 3 June 1791. He served with the guards throughout the campaign in the Netherlands under the Duke of York from 1793 to May 1795, and was promoted captain and lieutenant-colonel on 12 June 1795. He was promoted colonel on 29 April 1802, and served for a short time as a brigadier-general in the home district in 1805, but threw up that appointment in July 1806, in order to proceed to Sicily in command of the 3rd battalion of the 1st guards. He was made a brigadier-general in Sicily in August 1807, and was commandant of Messina from January to July 1808, when he started home to take command of a brigade in England. On his way, however, he touched at Lisbon on 6 Oct., and was at once begged by General Cradock to land and take command of a brigade consisting of the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 50th regiments, which Cradock wished to send to join the army of Sir John Moore in Spain. This brigade he led safely to Castello Branco by way of Abrantes, and there halted on 27 Nov., when he was ordered to hand over his brigade to Major-general Alan Cameron, and to join the main army under Sir John Moore. He reached Toro in safety, and was at once put in command of a brigade of Edward Paget's reserve, consisting of the 28th and 91st regiments. The reserve had to cover the famous retreat of Sir John Moore, and Disney greatly distinguished himself both at the action at Betanzos on 11 Jan. 1809, and in the battle of Corunna. For his services at that battle he received a gold medal, and was promoted major-general on 25 April 1809. In that year he commanded the first brigade of guards, attached to Hope's division, in the Walcheren expedition, and on his return to England was given the command of the home district. In 1810 he went out to Cadiz to act as second in command to General Graham, afterwards Lord Lynedoch, and in June 1811 he succeeded that general in the chief command there. He handed over the command at Cadiz to Major-general George Cooke in November 1811, and returned to England, and never again went on active service. He was promoted lieutenant-general on 4 June 1814, became colonel of the 15th regiment on 23 July 1814, was made a K.C.B. in 1815, and promoted general on 10 Jan. 1837. He died at his house in Upper Brook Street, London, on 19 April 1846, at the age of eighty.
[Sir F. W. Hamilton's History of the Grenadier Guards; Royal Military Calendar; Hart's Army List; Gent. Mag. for July 1846.]