Julia, Lady Inglis
Julia Selina, Lady Inglis (19 April 1833 – 3 February 1904) was the daughter of Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford, and wife of Major-General Sir John Eardley Inglis, who commanded the British troops at the Siege of Lucknow in 1857. She kept a diary of her life during the siege, which was published as The Siege of Lucknow: a Diary. She aimed to give "a simple account of each day's events (which) may give a clear idea of what was done by the garrison under (her husband's) command".[1]
Julia, Lady Inglis
19 April 1833
3 February 1904 (aged 70)
Her diary of the Siege of Lucknow (1857)
Major-General Sir John Eardley Inglis
- John Frederic Inglis
- Charles George Inglis
- Alfred Markham Inglis
- Victoria Alexandrina Inglis
- Julia Mathilda Inglis
- Rupert Edward Inglis
Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford
Anna Maria Tinling
Frederic Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford (brother)
Alfred Thesiger (brother)
Background[edit]
Her father was Frederic Thesiger (1794–1878), a lawyer who later became a Member of Parliament, serving as Attorney-General under Robert Peel and as Lord Chancellor under Lord Derby and was created the first Baron Chelmsford.[2]
Her mother was Anna Maria Tinling (1799–1875), daughter of William Tinling and Frances Peirson[3] and niece of Major Francis Peirson (1757–1781),[4][5][6] who was killed in the defence of Jersey during an attempted French invasion on 6 January 1781.[7]
Her elder brother, Frederic (1827–1905) succeeded their father as 2nd Baron Chelmsford and led the British forces in the battles at Isandlwana and Ulundi during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.[8]
On 19 July 1851,[9] she married Lieutenant-Colonel John Eardley Inglis of the 32nd Regiment of Foot, who had commanded the 32nd at Suraj Kund and was present at the storming and capture of Multan, the action at Chiniot and the Battle of Gujrat, during the Second Anglo-Sikh War of 1848–49.[10]
They had a total of seven children:[11][12]
Shipwreck[edit]
Following the retreat from Lucknow, Lady Inglis and her three children returned to England on board the SS Ava; the ship set out from Calcutta for Suez on 10 February 1858, but ran aground off Pigeon Island, about 12 miles from Trincomalee, Ceylon on 16 February.[19][20] The passengers and crew were rescued after spending a night in the ship's boats. "Johnny was delighted when [the waves] broke over the boat, and his merry laugh sounded sadly in my ears, for I quite thought that a watery grave awaited each one of us". The family eventually reached Alexandria before travelling on to Southampton, arriving there in early March.[1]
The family were re-united when Sir John arrived back in London on 20 May 1858.[1]
Diary[edit]
In 1892, more than thirty years after the events at Lucknow, Lady Inglis decided to publish her diary saying that she thought it "may prove interesting to my relations and friends" and would give "the present generation a clearer knowledge of the defence of Lucknow, and greater appreciation of the services of those engaged in it".[1] The diary has been variously described as "absorbing"[21] and "blood-curdling".[22]
Later life[edit]
After his return from India, Sir John suffered from poor health: "the continued suffering which he had undergone in India, and the almost total loss of sleep, had shaken his constitution, originally strong and robust."[23] He was appointed colonel of the 32nd light infantry on 5 May 1860, and soon after he was sent to Corfu to take command of the troops in the Ionian Islands.[2] His failing health soon led to his retirement from active service, when he was advised by his physicians to take a course of treatment at the baths at Homburg in Germany; unfortunately, this was in vain and he died there on 27 September 1862, aged 47.[23]
Lady Inglis later held the honorary position of "Housekeeper" of the State apartments of St James's Palace.[12] After her husband's death she lived at Beckenham where she died on 3 February 1904.[12]