# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Creagh, William

​CREAGH, WILLIAM (1828–1901), major-general and administrator, born at Newry, co. Down, on 1 June 1828, was second son of the seven children of General Sir Michael Creagh, K.H. (17878–1860), and Elizabeth, only daughter of Charles Osborne, judge of the King's Bench, Ireland, and niece of Sir Thomas Osborne, eighth baronet, of Newtown Anner, co. Tipperary. He came of an old Roman catholic family, and his father, who entered the army at the age of fourteen, saw much service with the 86th regiment, and was at his death in 1860 colonel commandant of the 73rd regiment; he was the first to become a protestant. His eldest brother, General Charles Creagh-Osborne, C.B. (d. 1892), after service in India, was commandant of the staff college, Camberley, 1878–86; his youngest brother, Major James Henry Creagh (d. 1900), served in the 27th regiment during the mutiny, and retired owing to illness then contracted.
William Creagh attended for six years Mr. Flynn's private school in Dublin. After instruction at Sandhurst (Jan. 1842–Dec. 1844) he became a cadet in the East India Company's service, and joined his regiment, the 19th Bombay infantry, in June 1845. In 1847, being then stationed at Karachi, he was placed by Gen. Walter Scott, R.E., in charge of an extensive district in upper Sindh (subdued in 1843 by Sir Charles Napier). Short of ordering the death-sentence and imprisonment for life, his powers were practically unlimited and strangely varied. Recalled from administrative duties by the outbreak of war in the Punjab (April 1848), he served with his regiment through the campaign of 1848–9. For his services he received the Punjab medal, with two clasps for Mooltan and Gujarat; his regiment, now the 119th, bears the title of 'The Mooltan Regiment.'
Coming home early in 1856, he married next year. Learning on his wedding trip at Killarney of the mutiny, he returned to duty, but sailing round the Cape, did not reach India until Delhi had fallen. He took part, however, with his regiment, under Sir Hugh Rose in Central India, in the pursuit of Tantia Topi, Nana Sahib's right-hand man, and was present at Tantia's defeat near Jhansi on 1 April 1858, and, a year later, at his capture.
Gazetted captain on 3 Feb. 1860, he successfully administered, by commission from Sir Richmond Shakespeare, resident ​at Indore, the native state of Dhar, during the minority of its Rajah (1861–2). Promoted major in 1865, lieutenant-colonel in 1871, and colonel in 1876, he was in command of his regiment when the second Afghan war broke out in 1878. From the first he had shown an aptitude for engineering and had made the earliest road up to the hill station of Matheran, near Bombay. His talent was now to stand him in good stead. From 16 Dec. 1878 to 26 Feb. 1879 he was employed with his men in making a military road from Jacobabad to Dhadar, a distance of 109 miles. On 27 Feb. the regiment thence began to ascend the Bolan Pass, making in its progress a further roadway, accessible to heavy guns and transport. At Dozan (half-way through the pass), which was reached in June, the workers were attacked by cholera, and more than fifty succumbed. During this outbreak Col. Creagh visited the hospital twice daily, and on one occasion a sepoy died holding his hand. On 31 July he was put in command of the Bombay troops in line of communication, with the rank of brigadier-general. By September the road was carried to Darwaza, a distance of 63 miles from Dhadar. Sir Richard Temple described the long road as ‘a signal example of what may be accomplished by a small body of troops with their trained followers.’
Owing to urgent private business, Creagh retired from the service in December, with the rank of major-general. He was mentioned in despatches and received the Afghan medal. Returning to England early in 1880, he passed the remainder of his life at St. Leonards-on-Sea. A churchman and conservative, he took an active though unostentatious part in religious, philanthropic, and political affairs. He died at St. Leonards on 23 May 1901, and is buried in the Hastings borough cemetery. Two small oil paintings of him at the ages of twenty-eight and forty respectively belong to his widow.
General Creagh was twice married: (1) on 29 April 1857 to Haidée Sarah Rose, daughter of John Dopping, of Derrycassan, co. Longford, by whom he had five sons and two daughters; (2) on 10 November 1877 to Dora, younger daughter of Edwin Sturge of Gloucester, by whom he had one son and two daughters. The four sons who reached manhood all entered the army. The eldest, Ralph Charles Osborne, served with distinction in Burmah, in Manipur, at the relief of Chitral, in the Kurram Valley, and in South Africa, and died at Netley on 27 Jan. 1904.
[Historical Record of the 86th Regiment; The Afghan Campaigns of 1878–80, by Sydney H. Shadbolt, 1882, 2 vols; private information.]
H. C. M.