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{{Infobox military person Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George }} Major-General Arthur FitzRoy Hart-Synnot C.B., C.M.G. (1844-1910) of the East Surrey Regiment served and commanded in the British Army during many of the late Victorian wars on the African continent.
 * name=Arthur FitzRoy Hart-Synnot
 * birth_date={{birth date|1844|05|4|df=yes}}
 * death_date={{death date and age|1910|04|29|1844|05|4|df=yes}}
 * birth_place=Portsmouth, England
 * death_place=
 * placeofburial=Ballymoyer
 * image=
 * caption=
 * nickname=
 * allegiance= {{flagcountry|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland}}
 * serviceyears=
 * rank=Major-General
 * branch=Flag of the British Army.svg British Army
 * commands=
 * unit=31st Foot later the East Surrey Regiment
 * battles=*Third Ashanti war (Battle of Amoaful; Battle of Ordashu}
 * Anglo-Zulu War (Siege of Eshowe; Battle of Gingindlovu)
 * First Boer War
 * Anglo-Egyptian War (Tel-el-Mahuta; Kassassin; Battle of Tel el-Kebir)
 * Second Boer War (Relief of Ladysmith)
 * awards=Companion of the Order of the Bath
 * laterwork=Author, editor of Hart's Army List

During the Second Boer War he commanded the 5th Infantry Brigade, a part of the force tasked with the Relief of Ladysmith, where he was criticized for mistakes he made during the Battle of Colenso.

Hart-Synnot inherited the job of author/editor of Hart's Army List from his father Henry, the founder of that publication.

Early life
Arthur FitzRoy Hart (he chose to append his name in adulthood) was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 4 May 1844, the third child (second son) of Lieutenant-General Henry George Hart and Frances Alicia Okes. According to his daughter Beatrice he was named after "two of the greatest soldiers of his day - Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington and FitzRoy, Lord Raglan".

Hart began his military education at 13 when he entered Sandhurst military academy on 9 February 1858 and although he received three decorations of merit there his father withdrew him in order that he should study for Woolwich academy with a view to entering the Royal Engineers. He therefore entered Cheltenham College in 1862 where he worked hard at athletics but ultimately failed to pass for Woolwich. He now chose to return to Sandhurst but because of new regulations had to resit the entrance exam and start the course over. After ten months in Sandhurst Hart passed out and was appointed as an ensign of the 31st Foot on 23rd December 1864.

Military career
Hart purchased his lieutenancy on 29 May 1867 and after the required minimum time of service spent with his regiment, a year of which was spent at Malta, he passed for Staff college first in order of merit. After two years he passed out in 1872.

Ashanti expedition
Lieutenant Hart was one of twenty British special service officers chosen to accompany Major-general Sir Garnet Wolseley to the Gold Coast ahead of the main British troops. They arrived off Cape Coast Castle on 2 October to take control of the local native forces and prepare for the invasion of the Ashanti lands. Hart was to lead a small native contingent from Sierra Leone which formed a part of Russell's regiment.

The native forces were sent out to defend the Fanti kingdom and consequently on 5-6 November Russell's regiment successfully fought the Defence of Abrakrampa.


 * Evelyn Wood (British Army officer)


 * Captain - 13 June 1874
 * Brevet Major - 29 Novemer 1879
 * Major and Instructor at Military college - 1 July 1881
 * Lieutenant colonel - 18 November 1882
 * colonel on half pay
 * Staff Major-general (Aldershot)

Family
Both of his brothers served in the Royal Engineers and his younger brother General Sir Reginald Hart won a Victoria Cross during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Arthur married Mary "May" Susanna Seton Synnot on 22 December 1868 through whom he would inherit Ballymoyer House and estate. They had four children:


 * Brigadier-general Arthur Henry Seton Hart-Synnot CMG, DSO and Bar, FRGS
 * Beatrice May Hart-Synnot
 * Ronald Victor Okes Hart-Synnot
 * Horatia Annette Hart-Synnot

His daughter Beatrice had a collection of his personal letters published after his death.