Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sutton, Charles

647061Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 55 — Sutton, Charles1898Gerald le Grys Norgate

SUTTON, Sir CHARLES (1775–1828), colonel, born in 1775, was the eldest son of Admiral Evelyn Sutton of Screveton, near Bingham, Nottinghamshire, by his wife, a daughter of Thomas Thoroton of Screveton. He was nephew of Mary Thoroton, the wife of Charles Manners-Sutton [q. v.], archbishop of Canterbury. He entered the army as an ensign in the 3rd foot guards in 1800, and in 1802 became lieutenant and captain. In 1803 he exchanged into the 23rd foot, and became major in 1807, and lieutenant-colonel in the army in 1811 and the regiment in 1813. After serving with Sir John Moore in his last campaign, Sutton entered the Portuguese service. At the battle of Busaco (27 Sept. 1810) he commanded their 9th regiment, and was mentioned in Wellington's despatch for his conduct. On 8 May 1811 he was in the hottest part of the action at Fuentes d'Onoro in command of the light companies in Champelmond's Portuguese brigade. Two days later he was recommended for the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel in the English army on the ground of his distinction in the Portuguese service. At the siege of Badajos he was attached to the third division under Picton, and was present at Salamanca, Vittoria, and the later actions in the south of France. He received a cross and three clasps for his services. In 1814 he attained the rank of colonel in the Portuguese army, and was made a knight of the order of the Tower and Sword. He subsequently became colonel in the English army, and was created K.C.B. on 2 Jan. 1815. After the peace he was appointed an inspecting field officer of the militia in the Ionian Islands, and had Colonel (afterwards Sir Charles) Napier as a colleague. While on leave from Zante he died suddenly of an apoplectic stroke on 26 March 1828 at Bottesford, near Belvoir, in the house of his uncle, the Rev. Charles Thoroton.

[Gent. Mag. 1828, i. 368–9; Hart's Army Lists; Wellington's Despatches, ed. Gurwood, iv. 306, 797, v. 7, 200.]

G. Le G. N.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.262
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page Col. Line  
180 i 32 Sutton, Sir Charles: for Thornton read Thoroton