William Fawcett (British Army officer)

General Sir William Fawcett KB (1727 – 1804) was a British Army officer who served as Adjutant-General to the Forces from 1781 to 1799. During this period Fawcett was the de facto ruler of the English army, and the most influential officer on the headquarters staff.

Military career
William Fawcett descended from an old family of Yorkshire gentry. He was educated at Bury Grammar School in Lancashire, William Fawcett was commissioned into the 33rd Foot in 1748.

In 1758 he was despatched to the War in Germany where he became an Aide-de-Camp to the Marquess of Granby. Then in 1775 he was sent to Hannover, Hesse-Cassel, Hesse-Hanau and Hanover to recruit troops for the War in America. The majority of the German troops who fought on the British side in the conflict were known as the "Hessians" in reference to the place of origin.

He was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1781: in this role he was involved in introducing Regulations for the Heavy Infantry and then for the Cavalry.

In retirement he served as Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1796 until 1804.

He lived at 31 Great George Street in London.

He died on 19 March 1804; and his funeral was honoured with the presence of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York, Clarence, Kent, and Cambridge.

Family
In 1749 he married Susannah Brook and together they had eight children. Following her death on 7 April 1783 he married Charlotte Stinton (d. 1805): they had no children.