William Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton

Who was William Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton?

William Frederick Waldegrave, Viscount Chewton was a British army officer.

Waldegrave was the eldest son of Hon. William Waldegrave and was educated at Cheam School. While still at school, he served as a midshipman aboard his father's ship, HMS Seringapatam from 1829–31 and later graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1837. He then emigrated to Canada and served with the militia which put down the rebellions of 1837 and returned to Britain in 1843 and served with the British Army.

In 1846, his father had inherited his earldom from the latter's nephew and Waldegrave took the courtesy title of Viscount Chewton. That year, Chewton fought in the Battle of Sobraon and then captained the 6th Regiment of Foot stationed at the Cape of Good Hope in 1847 and then the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Scotland in 1848. On 2 July 1850, he married Frances Bastard and they had a son, William, in 1851 and later a daughter who died in infancy. Chewton later fought in the Battle of Alma in September 1854, but died of his wounds a few weeks later.