Harry Calvert Lieutenant General Sir Harry Calvert , 1st Baronet GCB GCH ( March 1763 – 3 September 1826 ) was a British general . Military career . He was born in 1763 at Hampton , near London . He was educated at Harrow , and at the age of fifteen , was commissioned into the 23rd Foot ( Royal Welsh Fusiliers ) . The following year he served with his regiment in America during the American Revolutionary War . He was at the siege of Charleston , and served through the campaign of Lord Cornwallis which ended with the surrender of Yorktown . From 1781 to 1783 he was a prisoner of war . Flanders Campaign 1793 - 1795 . Returning to England in 1784 , he was promoted Captain 1785 , then next saw active service in 1793 in the Campaign in the Low Countries , where he was aide - de - camp to the Duke of York . Sent to discuss surrender terms with the garrison of Valenciennes , he was present at the Siege of Dunkirk 25 Aug - 10 September , and the relief of Menin on the 15th . Detached to the Austrian staff of Coburg , he was present at the Battle of Wattignies 15 / 16 Oct . Promoted Lieutenant Colonel , he remained on York ’ s staff 1794 and saw action at Beaumont ( Troisvilles ) 26 April . At the Battle of Tourcoing 17 / 18 May , he narrowly escaped capture with York and was forced to swim the Espierre ’ s brook with him . He again saw action at Tournai ( Pont - à - Chin ) 22nd , the retreat to Antwerp , June – July , and in the Defence of Holland . In 1795 he was engaged on a confidential mission to Brunswick and Berlin . One of York ' s “ most trusted staff officers ” his " Journals & Correspondence " remains a vital source of information on the Flanders Campaign of 1793 - 95 . Administrator . On Calvert ' s return to Britain he was appointed Deputy Quartermaster General at the Horseguards , then Deputy Adjudant General 1796 . He was made Colonel of the 5th West India Regt and Adjudant General 26 Jan 1797 . At this time “ Calvert was a rising star , already Deputy Adjudant General , and engaged to a niece of Mr . Greenwood , a partner in Cox , Greenwood , Cox & Co . , the army agents . Malicious gossip had it that this connexion was likely to do more for him than any show of martial brilliance , for the Duke of York was known to have heavy financial obligations to the firm . But Calvert had more than good looks and influence ; he stood firmly for the ( staff ) college ” . In 1799 , having already served as deputy Adjutant - General , he was made Adjutant - General to the Forces , holding this role until 1818 . In this capacity he effected many improvements in the organization and discipline of the service . He greatly improved the administration of the army medical and hospital department , introduced regimental schools , developed the two existing military colleges ( since united at Sandhurst ) , and was largely responsible for the founding of the Duke of York ' s School , Chelsea . Promoted Major General on 29th Sept 1803 , and Lieutenant General 25 Oct 1809 , in recognition of his work as adjutant general he was made a GCB in 1815 , and , on retiring from office , received a baronetcy in 1818 . In 1820 he was made Lieutenant - Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea , and elevated to Full General 1821 . He died on 3 September 1826 , at Middle Claydon , Buckinghamshire .