General William Belford | |
|---|---|
 Dial Square, Royal Arsenal | |
| Born | about 1712 Maidstone, Kent |
| Died | 1 July 1780 Dial Square, Royal Arsenal |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1726-1758 |
| Rank | General 29 August 1777 |
| Unit | Colonel, Royal Regiment of Artillery 1751–1758 |
| Commands | Commandant of the Royal Arsenal 1758-1780 |
| Battles / wars | War of Jenkins' Ear Cartagena de Indias War of the Austrian Succession Dettingen Fontenoy Jacobite rising of 1745 Second Siege of Carlisle Culloden |
General William Belford (c. 1712 – 1 July 1780) was a British artillery officer who began his career in 1726. He was part of the first generation of artillery officers selected and promoted on merit, rather than connections.
From 1743 to 1748, he served under the Duke of Cumberland in Flanders and Britain during the Jacobite rising of 1745. In 1751, he became Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, then of the First Battalion when this was expanded in 1757. He was Commandant of the Royal Arsenal from 1758 until his death in July 1780.