Charles Pearson ( British Army officer ) Lieutenant - General Sir Charles Knight Pearson KCMG CB ( July 1834 – 2 October 1909 ) was a military commander in the British Army during the Anglo - Zulu War ( also known as the Zulu War ) . Pearson was born in Somerset to Commander Charles Pearson of the Royal Navy . After buying the rank of Ensign in the 99th Regiment of Foot in 1852 , Pearson served during the Crimean War where he was Mentioned in Despatches . After steadily rising through the ranks , Pearson was sent to South Africa to command a battalion of the 3rd Regiment of Foot ( the Buffs ) . After retiring for a short period , he rejoined the Army after the outbreak of the Zulu War . Pearson was placed in command of a column of infantry which then became besieged at Eshowe for 70 days until Lord Chelmsford relieved them . After the war , Pearson became Governor and Commandant of the Royal Victoria Hospital , Netley , then commander of forces in the West Indies , before retiring in 1885 . Pearson died in 1909 . Early life and military career . Pearson was born in July 1834 in Thorne Coffin , Brympton , near Yeovil , Somerset to Commander Charles Pearson of the Royal Navy , who had served in the Peninsular War . He was educated at King ' s School , Bruton from 1847 until 1851 . Little is known of Pearson ' s early military career . Pearson bought the rank of Ensign in the 99th Regiment of Foot on 23 November 1852 . He moved to the 31st Regiment of Foot on 18 February 1853 . He was promoted to lieutenant ( without purchase ) on 15 June 1855 , and served as adjutant of the 31st Regiment from 20 July 1855 during the Crimean War . He was present throughout the Siege of Sevastopol , including the " attack on the Redan " , for which he was Mentioned in Despatches , he also received the Crimean medal with clasp and the Turkish Crimean War medal . He was promoted to captain ( by purchase ) on 15 February 1856 . After a period on half pay , he returned to active duty on 7 August 1857 , transferring to 3rd Regiment of Foot ( the Buffs ) , and purchased his promotion to major on 2 May 1865 . He married Marian Catherine Mundy daughter of Lieut . Col . Sir Robert Miller Mundy in 1866 . Pearson purchased his promotion to lieutenant - colonel and command of 2nd battalion , the Buffs on 14 August 1867 , and received a brevet promotion to colonel on 14 August 1872 . The Buffs were posted to South Africa , and in addition to command of the battalion he served as commandant in Natal from November 1876 to December 1877 , and then served as a staff colonel in Natal and Cis - Vaal until September 1878 He retired , and went on half pay on 30 November 1878 . However , with the outbreak of the Zulu war , he was placed in command of No 1 Column of the four columns Lord Chelmsford organised to begin the invasion of Zululand . Zulu war . While the British suffered a heavy defeat at the Battle of Isandlwana , to the south - east at Inyanzani , No 1 column had repelled a Zulu advance , this engagement apparently included the first use of a Gatling gun by British forces . No 1 column was made up of 5 , 000 regular and Natal Native Contingent soldiers led by Pearson . They repelled a 6000 strong Zulu attempt to stop the British advance to Ulundi . Pearson had suffered minimal losses for 400 Zulu and he advanced 4 miles further towards their objective ; Eshowe . Eshowe was originally planned to be a forward depot for a final advance towards Ulundi . This was thrown into doubt after the defeat at Isandlwana . Pearson received instructions from Lord Chelmsford stating " consider all my instructions cancelled and act in whatever manner you think most desirable in the interests of the column under your command . " Pearson decided to dig - in and he ordered his column to build heavy fortifications around the garrison in preparation for a siege ; the Siege of Eshowe had started . The siege lasted for 71 days until Chelmsford broke through to relieve them . For his actions throughout South Africa he was Mentioned in Despatches a further 10 times , and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath ( CB ) whilst he was still fighting , On 6 October 1879 he received a hero ' s welcome in his home town of Yeovil , the church bells were rung , he was greeted by the Mayor , who compared him with previous West Country heroes such as Drake , Grenville , Raleigh and Hawkins , and presented with a specially inscribed sword . The war was already somewhat controversial , the actions by Sir Bartle Frere and Lord Chelmsford which began it had not been specifically authorised by the British Government in advance , and the disaster at Isandlwana led to the defence of Eshowe by Pearson , and the famous action at Rorke ' s Drift being used to distract from the failure there . At this reception , Pearson defended the conduct of the war , and was supported by Sir Percy Douglas , who had preceded Chelmsford as the commander of British forces in South Africa . He was invested with the insignia of a Companion of the Bath by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 8 December , and those of a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George ( KCMG ) on 11 December 1879 , although this award was not actually gazetted until 19 December . Later life . After the war , Pearson became Governor and Commandant of the Royal Victoria Hospital , Netley on 5 May 1880 . Pearson was promoted from Colonel to Major - General on 1 April 1883 . On 1 April 1885 , Pearson was promoted to the post of Major - General on the Staff to command troops in the West Indies . He stayed in the post until March 1890 . He was promoted to Lieutenant General on 28 January 1891 and he retired on 1 April 1895 . On 22 December 1899 , he travelled to Southampton as part of the send off for his old battalion , 2nd Buffs , who were departing for South Africa once again , this time to fight in the Boer War . Pearson died in Upper Norwood , Surrey ( now South London ) on 2 October 1909 .