Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Steel, Scudamore Winde
STEEL, Sir SCUDAMORE WINDE (1789–1865), lieutenant-general, born in 1789, was appointed a cadet in the East India Company's service in 1805, and became lieutenant in the Madras army on 11 Sept. 1806. In 1808–9 he served under Colonel Doveton in Berar against the Pindaris. He took part in the Mahratta war of 1817–18 as assistant quartermaster, and was slightly wounded in the capture of one of the hill forts. He became captain in the army on 27 March 1821, and in the 51st native infantry on 1 May 1824. He was employed on the quartermaster-general's staff at Nagpur, and in the first Burmese war in 1826. He was promoted major in his regiment on 15 Dec. 1832, and was secretary in the military department at Madras from 1832 to 1845. He planned and took part in the operations for the reduction of Coorg in 1834. He was made lieutenant-colonel in the army on 28 July 1835, and of the 24th native infantry on 9 April 1838. On 20 July in that year he was made C.B.
In 1845 he was appointed military auditor-general; on 13 Sept. 1847 colonel of the Madras fusiliers; and on 8 March 1849 colonel of the 18th native infantry. He commanded the Madras division of the army engaged in the second Burmese war in 1852–1853, was mentioned in General Godwin's despatch of 24 Dec. 1852, and directed the column sent to Martaban in January to operate on the Salwin. He was made K.C.B. on 9 Dec. 1853, and was appointed to the command of the Pegu division and the Martaban provinces, being promoted major-general on 28 Nov. 1854. Steel returned to England in 1856, became lieutenant-general on 2 Sept. 1861, and died at Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park, London, on 11 March 1865.
[Gent. Mag. 1865, i. 533; Times, 13 March 1865; Blacker's Operations during the Mahratta War of 1817–19; Laurie's Pegu: a Narrative of the second Burmese War; East India Registers.]