Henry de Hinuber

Henry de Hinuber

Native name
Eduard Christoph Heinrich von Hinüber
Other name(s)Heinrich von Hinüber
Nickname(s)Harry
Born(1767-01-25)25 January 1767
London, England
Died2 December 1833(1833-12-02) (aged 66)
Frankfurt, German Confederation
Allegiance
Service / branch
Years of service
  • 1781–1803 (Hanover)
  • 1803–1816 (Britain)
  • 1816–1833 (Hanover)
RankLieutenant-general
UnitKing's German Legion
Commands
  • KGL Depot
  • 3rd Line Battalion, KGL
  • KGL Brigade, 1st Division
  • KGL Division
  • 4th Division
  • 3rd Hanoverian Infantry Brigade
  • 2nd Hanoverian Infantry Brigade
  • 2nd Division, Federal German Army
Battles / wars
AwardsArmy Gold Medal
Spouse(s)
Sophie Marie Lucie Eleonore Fahle
(m. 1815)

Lieutenant-General Henry de Hinuber KCB GCH (25 January 1767 – 2 December 1833), known in Hanover as Eduard Christoph Heinrich von Hinüber, was a Hanoverian infantry officer who commanded units of the King's German Legion (KGL) while serving in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. Hinuber joined the army of the Electorate of Hanover in 1781, and in 1782 travelled to fight in the Second Anglo-Mysore War in India. He was present at the Siege of Cuddalore and continued on in India until 1792. Promoted to major in 1798, Hinuber served until France invaded Hanover and disbanded the army in 1803.

Hinuber was one of the first Hanoverian officers to offer his services to the British Army, being given command of the 3rd Line Battalion of the KGL. He fought in the Hanover and Copenhagen Expeditions before in 1808 his battalion moved to form part of the British garrison in Sicily. Hinuber commanded a KGL brigade in a diversionary attack in the Bay of Naples in June and July 1809, before being promoted to major-general in 1811. He was given command of a KGL brigade in Lord Wellington's Peninsular War army in 1813.

Hinuber commanded his brigade at the Battle of Nivelle on 10 November 1813 and then at the Siege of Bayonne between February and April 1814. When the French launched an attack out of Bayonne on 14 April Hinuber's brigade was key in counter-attacking and pushing back the French. At the start of the Hundred Days Hinuber was in command of the 4th Division but, replaced by a more senior officer, he refused another command and missed the Battle of Waterloo. Hinuber, on British half pay, joined the army of the new Kingdom of Hanover in 1816. He commanded several infantry brigades, and was promoted to lieutenant-general in both British and Hanoverian service. In 1831 Hinuber received his last command, the 2nd Division of a corps of the German Federal Army based in Frankfurt. He died there of mastitis two years later.