Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Goodman, Stephen Arthur
GOODMAN, Sir STEPHEN ARTHUR (d. 1844), major-general, entered the army in October 1794 as ensign of the 48th foot, in which he became lieutenant in 1795 and captain in 1803. He served with his regiment in Minorca, with the force sent to Leghorn in 1800, under Lieutenant-general Sir Charles Steuart, to co-operate with the Austrians, and at the reduction of Malta. He accompanied his regiment to the Peninsula in 1809, and commanded the light companies of Stewart's brigade of Hill's division at the battle of Talavera. In 1810 he was appointed deputy judge-advocate, with the rank of assistant adjutant-general in Lord Wellington's army. He was present at the capture of Badajoz, and was placed in charge of the French governor Phillipon, whom he was ordered to conduct to Elvas. At the capture of Madrid and at the siege of Burgos, and in the subsequent retreat, Goodman acted for the adjutant-general of the army (Waters), absent through illness. In 1814 Goodman was appointed deputy judge-advocate of the troops proceeding to America, but exchanged to a like post in the British force left in Holland under the Prince of Orange. He was deputy judge-advocate of the Duke of Wellington's army in the Waterloo campaign, and at the occupation of Paris. His supersession was dictated by the duke's belief in the imperative need of having a professional lawyer at the head of that department of the army (see Wellington Suppl. Desp. xi. 43). Goodman retired on half-pay of his regimental rank at the peace, afterwards attaining major-general's rank, and was made C.B. and K.H.
In 1819 he was appointed colonial secretary of Berbice, to which in 1821 was added the then lucrative appointment of vendue-master in Berbice and Essequibo. His colonial services extended over a period of twenty-four years, during which he was in charge of the government of the colony from May 1835 to October 1836. During the negro insurrection of 1823 he was deputed by Governor Murray to organise a militia, and held the office of major-general and inspector-general of militia in the colony up to his death. He died on 2 Jan. 1844, leaving a widow and eleven children.
[Philippart's Royal Mil. Cal. 1820; Gent. Mag. new ser. xxi. 539.]