John Luard

John Luard (1790–1875) was a British Army officer and author of History of the Dress of the British Soldier Life He was fourth son of Captain Peter John Luard of the 4th Dragoons, of Blyborough, Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, and his wife Louisa, daughter of Charles Dalbiac of Hungerford Park, Berkshire, born on 5 May 1790; Henry Luard the banker was his younger brother, in a family of eight sons. He served in the Royal Navy 1802–7, and on 25 May 1809 obtained a cornetcy without purchase in his father's old regiment. Luard served in the 4th Dragoons through the Peninsular War campaigns of 1810–14, gaining a Military General Service Medal with clasps for the battles of Albuera, Salamanca, and Toulouse. Afterwards he served with the 16th Light Dragoons as lieutenant at the battle of Waterloo (medal), and as captain at Bhurtpoor in 1825-26 (Army of India Medal). Exchanging to the 30th Foot in 1832, Luard retired as major in 1834, and obtained a brevet lieutenant-colonelcy in 1838. He took up sculpture, and chaired the Farnham School of Art. He died on 24 October 1875, at The Cedars, Farnham, Surrey, his home.