Richard Guyon

Who was Richard Guyon?

Richard Debaufre Guyon, British soldier, general in the Hungarian revolutionary army and Turkish pasha, was born at Walcot, near Bath, Somerset.

After receiving a military education in England, Guyon fought against Dom Miguel in the Liberal Wars in Portugal. In 1832 Guyon entered the Austrian service joining the Hungarian Hussars; and on being attached as aide-de-camp to Baron Splényi, married the daughter of that general in 1838.

From that time till the outbreak of the revolution, Guyon led the life of a country gentleman on his estates near Komárom, but was one among the first to offer his services to the national government as an officer of the Royal Hungarian Army, and played a prominent part in the struggle for independence during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.

During the retreat of Artúr Görgey's army, Guyon carried the mountain-pass of Branyiszko, and by that daring feat of his re-established the communication with the government at Debrecen, as also with the several other Hungarian army corps.

He won great distinction in the Battle of Pákozd and the Battle of Schwechat and after the Battle of Kapolna was made a general.