William Hodson

Brevet Major William Stephen Raikes Hodson (1821–1858) was an officer of the British East India Company who joined the 2nd Bengal Grenadiers in 1844 as a cadet. He was present at the battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah and Sobraon in the 1st Sikh War. He was adjutant of the Corps of Guides under Harry Lumsden and was responsible for introducing the first khaki uniforms. Appointed Commissioner of the Punjab after its annexation, he was Commandant of the Corps of Guides in 1852. After acting as despatch rider for General George Anson when the Indian Mutiny broke out, he was ordered to raise a regiment of irregular horse which became Hodson's Horse. He played a major role in the recapture of Delhi and took the Mughal Emperor prisoner. The subsequent capture and execution of the Mughal princes brought him severe criticism. He was killed during the capture of Lucknow at the Battle of Begum Kothi.

External links

William Hodson Dictionary of Indian Biography (1906)
William Hodson Wikipedia

Historical Books on-line

Twelve Years of a Soldier's Life in India Letters of Major W S R Hodson BA 1864 (Google Books)