User:Chris.selwyn/sandbox

Major General William Selwyn (1655 – 6 April 1702) was an officer in the British Army. He was the 5th son of William Selwyn and Margaret, daughter of Edward Nourse of Gloucester. He held the position of Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica between January 1702 and April of that year.

William attended Oriel College, Oxford, matriculating on 11 April 1674

William inherited Matson House in Matson, Gloucester in 1679.

He married Albinia, daughter of Richard Betensen and Albinia, daughter of Christopher Wray on 26 May 1681 at Westminster Abbey.

Although he was naturally a Whig, being from the Gloucester countryside, William was present at the execution of William, Lord Russell, the leader of the Country Party.

William and Albinia had 4 sons and 3 daughters.

William died on the 5th of April 1702 in Jamaica.

Civil posts held

 * In 1675 he became mayor of the City of Gloucester
 * In 1698 he entered parliament as a Whig M.P. for Gloucester serving until 1701

Military record

 * Served in the Army of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, in the time of King Charles II
 * In 1688 he was nominated Captain and Lieutenant Colonel in the Second Foot Guards, with which Corps he served in Flanders
 * In 1691 King William made him the Colonel of the Second Foot, after the death of Lieutenant General Percy Kirke
 * Served at the head of his regiment at the Battle of Landen on the 29th July 1693, and distinguished himself under the eye of the king
 * Served at the siege of Namur, in the summer of 1695, and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General during the siege
 * Commanded a Brigade of Infantry in the Netherlands, under King William III, who nominated him Governor of the Island of Jamaica
 * He exchanged to the Twenty Second Regiment in 1701 as Colonel and was promoted to the rank of Major General on the 10th June 1702