What is Edward Pakenham?

Edward Pakenham was also the name of the sixth earl of Longford

Sir Edward Michael Pakenham (pro. pake-en-ham) (March 19, 1778 – January 8, 1815) was a British general who was killed at the Battle of New Orleans.



Pakenham was born at Pakenham Hall (now known as Tullynally Castle), County Westmeath, Ireland to Edward Michael Pakenham, 2nd Baron Longford and the former Catherine Rowley. He was educated at The Royal School, Armagh. His family purchased his commission as a lieutenant in the 92nd Foot Regiment when he was only sixteen. He served with the 23rd Light Dragoons against the French in Ireland and later served in Nova Scotia, Barbados, and Saint Croix. He led his men in an attack on Saint Lucia in 1803, where he was wounded. He also fought in Denmark and Martinique, where he was wounded again.

In 1806, his sister Catherine married Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington.

Pakenham, as adjutant-general, joined his famous relative in the Peninsula War. In 1811, he fought in the battle of Fuentes de Onoro to defend the besieged fortress of Almeida and helped to secure a British victory. Later in 1812, he was praised for his performance at Salamanca in which he commanded the Third Division.

In 1814, Pakenham, having been promoted to the rank of major-general, accepted an offer to replace General Robert Ross as commander of the British North American army, after Ross was killed by a sniper. The next year during the battle of New Orleans, he was soundly defeated by Major General Andrew Jackson. While rallying his troops near the enemy line, his horse was shot out from under him. As he mounted another horse, two bullets ripped through him, killing him almost immediately at the age of 36. His last words were reputed to be "Lost for the lack of courage". The battle was actually fought in Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish, but it has long been named for the larger city in the area.

There is a statue in his memory at the South Transept of St Paul's Cathedral in London. His body was returned in a casket of rum and buried in the Pakenham family vault in Killucan in Westmeath, Ireland.

Pakenham is mentioned in Johnny Horton's American folk song "The Battle of New Orleans". There is also a small village in Ontario, Canada named in honor of the general after a short visit there.

References

• "Edward Michael Pakenham", A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, Vol. 2 (1988), p. 627