NAM.1959-05-28-1

Lieutenant (later Lieutenant General) William Vincent (1781-1859), 20th Regiment [Bengal] Native Infantry, 1804 (c). Oil on canvas, artist unknown, 1804 (c). Half-length, in the uniform of 20th Bengal Native Infantry, one arm leaning on a sill. Vincent arrived in India on 13 February 1804, having taken part in the expedition to capture Ternate, one of the Dutch Spice Islands, during his outward journey (see 1959-05-28). The island fell on 21 June 1801, at which time he held a provisional commission in the Marines. In 1803 he was posted as Ensign to 20th Regiment [Bengal] Native Infantry, and was promoted Lieutenant on 29 March 1804. He had a long and active career, and saw action in many campaigns including the Capture of Java (1811), 1st Burma War (1824-1826) and the 1st Sikh War (1845-1836).