Arthur Cunynghame

General Sir Arthur Augustus Thurlow Cunynghame (3 August 1812 – 10 March 1884) was a British Army commander and memoirist. Cunynghame was colonel-commandant of the King's Royal Rifle Corps and of the 36th Regiment of Foot. Early life Cunynghame was born at Malshanger House near Oakley, Hampshire, the fifth son of Col. Sir David Cunynghame, 5th Baronet of Milncraig, by his first wife, Mary (or Maria) Thurlow, an illegitimate daughter of Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow. Career Cunynghame joined the Army in November 1830 after purchasing a commission as a second lieutenant in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, 60th Rifles. He was promoted to lieutenant on 2 May 1835 and in 1841 was transferred to the 3rd Buffs. He served in the First Opium War as aide-de-camp to Major-General Alexander Fraser, Lord Saltoun, and he was present at the Battle of Chinkiang. He was mentioned in despatches and was present at the Treaty of Nanking. He served as aide-de-camp to Saltoun through January 1844. In 1845, he was promoted to major and in November 1846 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 13th Light Infantry. Within a month he transferred as lieutenant-colonel in the Grenadier Guards. He joined the 20th Regiment in 1849 and the 27th Regiment in 1852. In 1853–54, he served as aide-de-camp to his father-in-law, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces Viscount Hardinge, until returning to action in the Crimean War.