Matthew Darby-Griffith

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This article is about the British army general. For the British landscape designer & publisher, see Matthew Darby.

Matthew Chitty Darby, later Darby-Griffith, (1772–1823) was a British soldier and Major-General.

He was the second son of Vice-Admiral George Darby and his wife, Mary daughter of Sir William St Quintin, 4th Baronet. His maternal aunt was Mrs. Catherine Griffith, the wife of Christopher Griffith Esq., from whom he inherited the Padworth Estate in September 1801. In accordance with her will, he also took the additional name of Griffith.

Darby had a distinguished military career, serving in the Regiment of the First or Grenadier Guards for a period of thirty years. He fought in the Napoleonic Wars, taking part in the expedition to Holland under Sir Ralph Abercrombie in 1799 and afterwards serving under the Duke of York. He served in Hanover in 1805, and at the seige of Copenhagen in 1807. In 1809, he was present, and lost his leg, at the Battle of Corunna in Spain, where Sir John Moore, having accomplished a retreat under immense difficulties, finally held in check the pursuing French army long enough to enable his own troops to embark. Darby was awarded the War Medal with one clasp for the part he played at Corunna.

Major-General Darby-Griffith died at Padworth House on 7th August 1823. By his wife, Lousia, daughter of Thomas Hankey Esq. of Fetcham Park, Surrey, he was the father of three sons and one daughter, including Christopher Darby-Griffith, MP and General Henry Darby-Griffith, CB.

[edit] References

  • Hart's Annual Army List. (1863)