James Henry Fitzroy Somerset, Baron, the eighth son of the fifth Duke of Beaufort, was born in 1788, and entered the army in 1804. His military training was received under the Duke of Wellington. Becoming one of the aides-de-camp of that general in 1808, he continued during the rest of the French war to serve him with great efficiency and acceptance. On all occasions he was one of his great chief's most trusted advisers. In times of action, too, his cool courage and daring valour were notable. He was among the foremost combatants at every battle, and experienced a full share of the honours and perils of the war. At the storming of Badajoz he was one of the first to mount the breach; at Busaco he was slightly wounded; and at Waterloo he lost his right arm. Fitzroy Somerset next appeared in an administrative character. He was secretary to the embassy at Paris from 1816 to 1819. Then the Duke of Wellington, holding at that time the office of master-general of the ordnance, made him his secretary; and when appointed commander-in-chief in 1827, still retained him in the same capacity. No sooner had the term of that office expired in September 1852, than other appointments began to flow in upon him. He was promoted to the post of master-general of the ordnance, and was elevated to the House of Peers with the title of Baron Raglan. He was also acting as a privy councillor when the outbreak of the Russian war in 1854 summoned him to a higher sphere of duty. Lord Raglan now entered upon his office as commander of the British forces in the Crimea. His conduct in that tedious and disastrous campaign (of which a detailed account is given under Russia) was worthy of one who had been trained under Wellington. There was not in the entire expedition a single critical occasion during which his calm courage did not appear to advantage. At the battle of the Alma his French colleague St Arnaud declared that "his bravery rivalled that of antiquity." During the fight of Balaklava he was seen coolly reconnoitring in front of his own lines, and within range of the enemy's guns. In the great battle of Inkermann it was his promptness in bringing a few guns into play which contributed in a great measure to check and rout the overwhelming masses of the enemy. Even the disasters of the ensuing winter, although they brought discredit upon his capacity as a general, did not impair his fortitude and firmness of purpose. He continued to act with magnanimity and energy, in spite of the dreadful misfortunes on the field and the clamorous discontent at home. It was not till after the severe repulse of the allies on the 18th June 1855 that his mental anxiety became too great for his brave spirit, and brought his life to a close on the 29th of the same month.