Pierre Frédéric de Meuron

Pierre-Frédéric de Meuron (17 April 1746 – 30 March 1813)[1] was the fifth Military Governor of British Ceylon, from 1797 to 1798, and fourth General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. He was also the commanding officer of the Regiment de Meuron, a unit of Swiss mercenaries that had served in Ceylon under the Dutch, but whose transfer of allegiance to Great Britain facilitated the fall of Columbo to the British on 15 October 1796.

Pierre-Frédéric de Meuron
5th Military Governor of British Ceylon
In office
12 July 1797 – 12 October 1798
MonarchGeorge III
Preceded byPeter Bonnevaux
Succeeded byRobert Andrews
(as Resident and Superintendent of British Ceylon)
4th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
In office
12 July 1797 – ?
Preceded byPeter Bonnevaux
Succeeded byJosiah Champagne
Personal details
Born17 April 1746
Saint-Sulpice, Principality of Neuchâtel
Died30 March 1813(1813-03-30) (aged 66)
Neuchâtel, Principality of Neuchâtel
Military service
Allegiance Dutch Republic
 Great Britain
 United Kingdom
Years of service1781–1812
RankLieutenant general (British Army)
CommandsGeneral Officer Commanding, Ceylon
Regiment de Meuron

Biography

Meuron was born in Saint-Sulpice, Principality of Neuchâtel (now Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland).[1] He was the son of Elisabeth Dubois de Dunilac and Théodore de Meuron, a merchant and militia captain.[1] In 1781, he entered Dutch service as the recruiting officer for the Regiment de Meuron, a mercenary regiment founded by his brother, Charles-Daniel de Meuron.[1] Meuron succeeded his brother as colonel of the regiment in 1786.[1]

Meuron commanded the regiment in Ceylon, India, and the Mediterranean.[1] He received the rank of brigadier general in 1795, after the regiment entered British service.[1] He was appointed Military Governor of British Ceylon on 12 July 1797 and occupied this post until 12 October 1798. His successor was Robert Andrews, who served as Resident and Superintendent of British Ceylon.[2] Meuron was promoted to major general in 1798 and to lieutenant general in 1805.[1] He retired in 1812 and died in Neuchâtel on 30 March 1813.[1]

References
  1. Cyrille Gigandet: Pierre-Frédéric de Meuron in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  2. "Sri Lanka". Rulers.org. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
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