Charles Menzies (Royal Marines officer)

This article is about the soldier and founder of Newcastle, New South Wales. For the Canadian anthropologist, see Charles Menzies (anthropologist).
Sir Charles Menzies
Portrait by Daniel Cunliffe
Born12 May 1783[1]
Bal Freike, Perthshire, Scotland
Died22 August 1866(1866-08-22) (aged 83)
Hastings, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Marines
Years of service1798–c.1857
RankGeneral
Battles/warsNapoleonic Wars
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order

General Sir Charles Menzies, KCB, KH (12 May 1783 – 22 August 1866) was a senior Royal Marines officer. Although he became a respected soldier, fighting with Horatio Nelson in the Napoleonic Wars and later rising to the rank of general before becoming aide de camp to Queen Victoria, Menzies is best remembered for the founding of Newcastle, New South Wales and the successful commencement of its settlement between the age of 21 and 22.

  1. ^ Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950