Edward Lugard


Sir Edward Lugard was a British Army officer who served as Adjutant-General in India and later as Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War at the War Office.

Military career

Commissioned as an Ensign in the 31st Regiment of Foot in August 1828, Lugard fought in the Battle of Kabul in 1842 during the First Anglo-Afghan War. He then served in the First Sikh War, taking part in the battles of Moodkee, Aliwal and Sobraon, later also serving in the Second Sikh War. He became Adjutant General for the Punjab District in 1848, then Deputy Adjutant General in Bombay in 1854, before acting as Chief of Staff during the Persian campaign, and Adjutant-General in India from July 1857. He commanded the 2nd Division at the Capture of Lucknow in 1858 during the Indian Rebellion, and became a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in January 1858.
After nearly three decades in India, Lugard returned to the United Kingdom in 1859 where he served as Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War at the War Office from 1861 to 1871. Advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in March 1867, he became a Privy Councillor in November 1871 and was promoted to the rank of General in November 1872.
In 1862 he was appointed Colonel of the 31st Regiment of Foot, which amalgamated in 1881 with the 70th Foot to form the East Surrey Regiment, after which he was Colonel of the 1st Battalion of the new regiment until his death in 1898, aged 88.
There is a memorial plaque to Lugard in All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.