John Prideaux (British Army officer)
John Prideaux was a brigadier-general in the British Army.
He was born 1718 in Devon, England the second son of Sir John Prideaux, 6th Baronet, of Netherton Hall, near Honiton. On 17 July 1739 he was appointed ensign of the 3rd Foot-Guards; he was adjutant of his battalion at the Battle of Dettingen and become lieutenant colonel of his regiment on 24 February 1748.On 20 October 1758 he was appointed colonel of the 55th Regiment of Foot. During the French and Indian War he was given command of the British force at the Battle of Fort Niagara, promoted as Brigadier General. However, on 19 July 1759 he was killed by being struck in the head with a shell fragment. On the morning of that day, being still dusk, the recently appointed General was inspecting his artillery, when he suddenly stept in front of a British mortar. This sudden move of Prideaux proved fatal as the friendly fire from that mortar decapitated him. The command of the siege of Fort Niagara then fell on Sir William Johnson.
