Sir John Michel | |
|---|---|
 Sir John Michel | |
| Born | 1 September 1804 Dewlish House, Dorset |
| Died | 23 May 1886 (aged 81) Dewlish House, Dorset |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1823–1880 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Commands | 6th Regiment of Foot Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong Commander of the British Troops in Canada Commander-in-Chief of Ireland |
| Battles / wars | Eighth Xhosa War Crimean War Indian Mutiny Second Opium War Fenian raids |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Order of the Medjidie, Second Class (Ottoman Empire) |
Field Marshal Sir John Michel, GCB PC (1 September 1804 – 23 May 1886) was a British Army officer. He commanded the 6th Regiment of Foot during the Eighth Xhosa War in 1851 and served as Chief of Staff of the British Army's Turkish contingent during the Crimean War in 1854 before transferring to India where he commanded the Malwa Field Force which pursued Tatya Tope in the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny. He then commanded the 1st Division at the Battle of Taku Forts in August 1860 during the Second Opium War and took part in the burning of the Old Summer Palace at Peking in October 1860 as a reprisal for the torture and murder of British prisoners before being appointed Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong in 1861. He later commanded the forces in British North America playing a key role in the organization of the militia volunteers in resistance to the Fenian raids invasions in 1866. His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief of Ireland in 1875.
Michel was also an English cricketer with amateur status.