Lieutenant-General John Michel

Army officer and MP for Belfast 1816-1818. Son of David Robert Michel and Grace Harrison Michel nee Ayscough. Awarded the compensation for the enslaved people on the Mountain River estate in St John Jamaica. The estate is shown in the Jamaica Almanacs against 'John Michel' for much of the 1820s.

1. Lieutenant-General John Michel, who married as his second wife Anne, daughter of Henry Fane MP and sister of Vere Fane (q.v.). This John Michel and Anne Fane were the parents of Fieldmarshal Sir John Michel who has entries in both the ODNB and the Dictionary of Canadian Biography online. Lieutenant-General John Michell [sic], appointed Ensign in the 51st Foot February 1781; Lt-Col. 4th Dragoon Guards 1796; Brigadier-General on the staff in Ireland 1804; Major-General October 1809, Lieutenant-General 4/6/1814. Will of John Michel, General of the Army of Dewlish Dorset proved 14/05/1844.

2. Living in Dewlish, Dorset, in the 1841 census: John Michel, age 75, "Army H.P.", born in county, with Caroline Michel, age 35, also born in county, Eliza Hawkins, age 30, not born in county, 6 female servants and 4 male servants. Baptism based on his age and county of birth: John Michel, son of David Robert Michel and Grace, baptised 14/04/1768 in Dewlish, Devon. His father, David Robert Michel, was MP for Lyme Regis, 1780-1784 "on the Fane interest". His mother was Grace, daughter of John Ayscough of Jamaica.

T71/854 St John no. 215 Lieutenant-General John Mitchell [sic], owner-in-fee. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/michel-john-1765-1844 [accessed 13/02/2017]. The identification of this claimant as Lt-Gen John Michel has been confirmed by the will of his father David Robert Michel and by the Accounts Produce for the Mountain River estate. Earlier possibilities for this man's identity in a previous version of the database were: a) Major General John Mitchell (1785-1859) who served in the West Indies for several years after 1804, although it was noted that the promotions of Major General John Mitchell (major in 1821, lieutenant-colonel unattached 10/1/1837, colonel 11/11/1851 and major-general 31/8/1855) given in his ODNB entry did not correspond to the title given in the compensation records; and b) General Sir John Michell (1781-1866) of the Royal Artillery: for a) ODNB online, R.H. Vetch, rev. James Falkner 'Mitchell, John (1785-1859), army officer and writer', and for b) National Probate Calendar 1866.

1. John Burke A general and heraldic dictionary of the peerage and baronetage (1832) Vol. 2 p. 610; John Philippart, The Royal Military Calendar or Army Service and Commission Book (1820) Vol. 2 p. 357; H.M.Chichester, rev. Roger T.Stearn 'Michel, Sir John (1804-1886), army officer'; PROB 11/1998.

2. 1841 census online. Ancestry.com, England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 [database online]. History of Parliament online: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/michel-david-robert-1735-1805 [accessed 12/11/2013].