Henry Christopher Wise (British Army officer)
Henry Christopher Wise | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1829 Rome, Papal States (now Italy) |
| Died | 12 December 1854 (aged 25) Ballarat, Victoria, Australia |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1847–1854 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 40th Regiment of Foot |
| Battles / wars | Eureka Rebellion (DOW) |
| Relations | Henry Christopher Wise (father) |
| This article is part of a series on the |
| Eureka Rebellion |
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Captain Henry Christopher Wise (1829 – 12 December 1854) was the highest-ranking British soldier who died in the Eureka rebellion.
Wise was the son of Henry Christopher Wise, an English Conservative politician, and his first wife Harriett Skipwith. He was edjucated at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, being commissioned Ensign in the 40th Regiment of Foot in 1847. He became Lieutenant in 1849 and was assigned as Adjutant. The regiment was sent from England to serve in Australia, and arrived in Victoria in 1852. In the following year he was promoted to Captain.
Wise was sent to Ballarat in November 1854 to suppress the miners' opposition. He was shot in both legs during the Battle of the Eureka Stockade and died eighteen days later. According to some eyewitness accounts, he was shot by Edward Thonen.
A memorial plaque to Captain Wise was erected in All Saints' Church, Leek Wootton.
He was played by Nigel Lovell in the 1949 film Eureka Stockade.