This is a good readable biography of an important British commander of the Napoleonic Wars, casting a light on the less familiar parts of this career.

Read the full review here.

History of War

Janet Macdonald’s fluently written and insightful biography focuses on the development of Sir John Moore’s character as well as his career as a commander. From it emerges a many-sided portrait of a fascinating man and an outstanding soldier, a key figure in the history of the British army.

Admired by his peers but distrusted by his political masters, Moore was a controversial figure. He is best known for saving the British army in Spain by leading the retreat to Corunna, but he is also credited with developing the training system that enabled Wellington’s army to beat the French in Spain and at Waterloo. Janet Macdonald’s account will rekindle interest in a leading actor in the struggle against the French revolutionary and Napoleonic armies.

Pennant, Forces Pension Society

As featured in

Gloire & Empire no.69

The author of this new biography is of the opinion that Lieutenant General Sir John Moore (1761-1809) was perhaps the second most famous British soldier of the Napoleonic Wars after the Duke of Wellington, but feels that his varied and remarkable career has been somewhat neglected in comparison to that of the Duke. Sir John’s death in battle at Corunna 1809 overshadows the wide range of his earlier campaigns and his achievements as an innovative soldier, a key figure in the history of the British army. Handsome and heroic, Sir John was the epitome of an army officer in the years leading up to the Peninsular War (1809-1814). He served in several theatres of war including the American War of Independence, the rebellion in Ireland, Holland, Egypt and the West Indies, receiving a number of serious wounds in the process. He is probably best known for saving the British army in Spain by leading the retreat to Corunna, but he is also credited with establishing Shorncliffe army camp and there developing the light infantry training system that enabled Wellington’s forces to beat the French in Spain and then in Belgium. The text is supported by 21 monochrome illustrations and there are four appendices; Army Structure During the Napoleonic War; Sir John Moore’s Will; Charles Wolfe’s Poem ‘The Burial of Sir John Moore at Corunna’; Sir John Moore’s Letter, Corunna 13 January 1809, plus text notes, a bibliography and an index. The layout of the book sees each page full of text, requiring some continued close attention on the part of the reader, but it is well worth the effort. A most interesting addition to the Napoleonic bookshelf.

Stuart Asquith, author