Edward Barnes (British Army officer)

Lieutenant General Sir Edward Barnes GCB


5th Governor of British Ceylon
In office 18 January 1824 – 13 October 1831
Preceded by	James Campbell acting governor
Succeeded by	John Wilson acting governor
Acting Governor of British Ceylon
In office 1 February 1820 – 2 February 1822
Preceded by	Robert Brownrigg
Succeeded by	Edward Paget
12th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
In office 1820 – ?
Preceded by	Alexander Cosby Jackson
Succeeded by	James Campbell
Personal details
Born	1776
Died	19 March 1838 (aged 61 or 62)
Spouse(s)	Maria Fawkes (1798 - 1854)
Children	Maria Anne (1825 - ?) Richard Hawksworth (1831 - 1904)
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	General Officer Commanding, Ceylon Indian Army
Battles/wars	Peninsular War

Lieutenant General Sir Edward Barnes, GCB (1776 – 19 March 1838) was a British soldier who became governor of Ceylon.

Barnes joined the 47th Regiment of Foot in 1792, and quickly rose to field rank. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1807, serving in the Invasion of Martinique in 1809, and colonel in 1810. Two years later, he served on Wellington's staff in the Peninsular War. His services in this capacity gained him further promotion; as a major-general, he led a brigade in the Battle of Vitoria and took part in the battles the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive and Orthez. He was awarded the Gold Cross and three clasps for his Peninsula service. Barnes served in the campaign of 1815 as adjutant-general, and was wounded at the Battle of Waterloo, where he was known as "our fire eating adjutant general". Already a KCB, he was a recipient of the Austrian Order of Maria Theresa 3rd Class, and the Russian Order of St Anne.