DUQUE DE ELVAS in Portugal.
British general and Portuguese marshal prominent in the Iberian Peninsular War of 1808-14.
For his costly victory over the French al La Albuera, Spain, on May 16, 1811, he was subjected to harsh criticism in Great Britain.
An illegitimate son of the 2nd earl of Tyrone (afterward 1st marquess of Waterford), Beresford entered the British Army in 1785.
As a brigadier general he led a raid, unauthorized but informally encouraged by his superiors, on the Spanish colonial city of Buenos Aires- Spain at the time (1806) being an ally of Napoleonic France, Beresford captured the town easily, but local forces compelled him to surrender on Aug 12, 1806. Escaping after six month´s imprisionment, he was appointed governor of Madeira, which was then held by the British on behalf of Portugal.
Recalled to combat service, he fought well under Gen. Sir John Moore La Coruña, Spain (Jan. 16, 1809). Gen. Sir Arthur Wellesley, the future duke of Wellington, chose him to reorganize the Portuguese Army, in which Beresford was given the rank of marshal (March 7, 1809).
In command of a British corps at La Albuera, near Badajoz, Beresford lost one-fourth of his men while defeating the French marshal Nicolas-Jean de Dieu Soult, duc de Dalmatic. Resuming command of Portuguese troops, he was wounded at Salamanca (July 22, 1812).
He served Portugal until 1819, being successively created conde, marquês, and duque in that country´s peerage. During Wellington´s first prime ministry he was master general of the ordnance (1823-30).
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