John Michel


Sir John Michel

Sir John Michel
Born(1804-09-01)1 September 1804
Dewlish House, Dorset
Died23 May 1886(1886-05-23) (aged 81)
Dewlish House, Dorset
AllegianceUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1823–1880
RankField Marshal
Commands6th 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 / warsEighth Xhosa War
Crimean War
Indian Mutiny
Second Opium War
Fenian raids
AwardsKnight 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.