Lord Heathfield

It is many generations since the fame of Lord Heathfield ran through England, and the story is forgotten. He lies here at Heathfield, to whom an inscription is cut in brass from one of the floating batteries captured from the spaniards.

He was born George Augustus Eliott. He raised a regiment which was named after him, Eliott's Light Horse, and he was made Governor of Gibraltar towards the end of the 18th century.

He was the very man for an anxious post like that, for the Spaniards were tired of the British being there and attacked Gibraltar for three years. Nothing could daunt this man. He was one of the most moderate men of his age in eating and drinking; he ate vegetables and drank water only. He never slept over four hours at a time.

Such a man was not to be starved and was hardly to be surprised, and with the eyes of all Europe on his garrison he withstood the whole resources of Spain. The Spaniards had been blockading the fortress from land, but in 1779 they attacked it from the sea as well. For three years the siege went on. One of the Spanish leaders invented a method of firing red-hot shot, but even this did not daunt the defenders. Their worst enemy was famine, owing to the coast blockade.

At last Lord Howe fought his way through the Spanish fleet to the rescue. He found the great defender undismayed and prepared to hold out for many more months. He was knighted and a few years later made a lord, Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar.

Reynolds painted his portrait, and in it this red-coated warrior stands looking as firm and bold as the rock of Gibraltar itself.

There is a monument of him in St Paul's.

 

 

 

 

 

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