Pakenham, Sir Edward Michael

Pakenham, Sir Edward Michael păkˈənəm [key], 1778–1815, British general. He entered the army in 1794 and served in the wars against Napoleon I, emperor of France. He distinguished himself in the Peninsular War at Salamanco in 1812. During the War of 1812 with the United States, he commanded British forces in the battle of New Orleans; it was the last engagement of the war, fought on Jan. 8, 1815, after peace had been signed at Ghent. Andrew Jackson led the American troops, who won a decisive victory over the British during which Pakenham was killed.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies