Stedman, Jan Andries

STEDMAN,

JAN ANDRIES

by Geert van Uythoven

Jan Andries Stedman was born in Zutphen (Netherlands) on 13 March 1778.

Early years

He started his military career when he was 15 years old, joining as a cadet the Dutch Cavalry Regiment ‘Hessen-Phillipsthal’ on his birthday, 13 March 1793. Serving against the French in the southern Netherlands 1793-1794. Wounded during the combat of Lannoy, 13 September 1793. Again wounded near Grandchamp farm during the battle of Fleurus, 26 June 1794. Promoted to supernumerary cornet on 9 August 1794.

Batavian Army 1795 - 1806

After the Dutch Republic had been ran over by the French and the Batavian Republic had been formed, on 10 July 1795 Stedman entered Batavian service as a 2nd lieutenant with the Hussar Regiment. In 1796 he served in Germany under Herman Willem Daendels. From July to September 1797 he was embarked on the roads of Den Helder for the invasion of Great Britain, but nothing came of it. Campaign in North Holland 1799: Distinguished himself during the battle of Castricum (6 October). Serving in Germany under Dumonceau 1800-1801.

On 14 June 1803, Stedman was appointed 1st adjutant of Pyman, secretary of state for the Department of War, receiving the titular rank of cavalry captain. Promoted effective 1st lieutenant on 20 September 1803. On 28 June 1805, he was appointed major and adjutant of the 'raadspensionaris' Schimmelpenninck. Promoted lieutenant-colonel on 3 June 1806.

Dutch Army 1806 - 1810

When Louis Bonaparte became king of the Kingdom of Holland, on 25 September 1806 Stedman was assigned to the staff of the Division Michaud. Serving in Germany 1806-1809, first under Michaud, later with the staffs of the Divisions of Dumonceau and Gratien. Appointed a Knight in the Koninklijke Orde van Verdienste on 13 February 1807 (this order was changed in the Koninklijke Orde van Holland on 14 February 1807, then on 23 November 1807 in the Ordre de Réunion).

On 25 March 1808 he was appointed colonel with the general staff. Served during the storming and subsequent capture of Stralsund on 31 May 1809. Appointed chief of staff of the Division, following the death of Carteret during the storming of Stralsund, on that same day. Returned to Holland on 14 June 1809. Appointed commander in the Danish Dannebrog Order on 20 June 1809. On 2 August of that same year assigned to Dumonceau’s staff in Amsterdam, the start of a period of confusion: Assigned to the military force in Noord-Brabant under Tarayre, against the British invasion of Walcheren, the next day. Promoted brigadier on 5 August and appointed chief of staff of Tarayre’s united forces in Noord-Brabant again already the next day. Promotion came swift these days; major-general on 10 August. Replacing Suden as chief of staff of the Dumonceau’s Dutch army in Noord-Brabant on 14 August 1809. A month later, on 15 September, he on his turn was replaced by Suden again, instead receiving command of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Mobile Division of the Dutch army under Van Helden. This appointment however was countermanded and he retained his position as chief of staff of Dumonceau (16 September). Appointed commander of the Ordre de Réunion on 1 July 1810.

French Army 1810 - 1814

When the Dutch Kingdom became a part of the French Empire, Stedman entered French service as a général de brigade on 11 November 1810. He was assigned to the Army of Naples on 24 December of that year. Allowed to wear his commanders cross of the Danish Dannebrog Order by Imperial Decree of 17 February 1811. September 1811 appointed commander of a brigade of the Corps d’Observation of southern Italy (Grenier). Appointed commander in the Ordre de Réunion of France on 29 February 1812. On 27 March 1812 he was order to Milan. On 22 June he was sent to Alexandria to be assigned to a field Division. Appointed provisional commander of the Montenotte department on 24 November. Send to Piazenca on 13 January 1813, on 3 March at Verona assigned to the cavalry Division of the Corps d’Observation of Italy. Became a knight of the Légion d’honneur on 18 June 1813.

Send to Germany, in August 1813 appointed commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Light Cavalry Division (Pajol) of the 14th Army Corps. Battle of Dresden 26-27 August. Taken prisoner during the capitulation of Dresden on 11 November 1813.

Netherlands Army 1814 - 1815

Stedman returned to the Netherlands and immediately entered the Netherlands army, becoming a major-general on 17 March 1814. Allowed to wear his commanders cross of the Danish Dannebrog Order on 6 April 1814. On 11 April he received command of the 3rd brigade of the 2nd Division (Du Pont) of the Netherlands Mobile Army Corps in Belgium, already before he received his official dismissal of the French army on 23 April. Occupied Maastricht on 5 May. During June-August 1814 he was commander of the 3rd brigade of the Army Corps (Prince Frederick) destined for the occupation of Belgium.

On 25 March 1815, Stedman was appointed commander of the 1st Infantry Division of the Netherlands Army, promoted lieutenant-general on 21 April. That same month, his Division was assigned to the forces commanded by Prince Frederick together with Hill’s 2nd Army Corps of Wellington’s Anglo-Allied Army in Belgium. As such he missed the battle of Waterloo. During 29 June–20 July 1815 he led the blockade of Valenciennes. On 16 August appointed acting commander of the 2nd Army Group during the absence of Prince Frederick. Appointed a knight 3rd Class of the Militaire Willemsorde on 14 October 1815.

Later years

On 25 March 1816, Stedman became president of a commission which had to investigate the conduct of Major-General van Wijck. On 12 April 1816, he himself was relieved from his command, being accused of having facilitated a smuggling operation along the Franco-Belgian border on 29 October 1815. Appearing before a council of war, he was sentenced and discharged on 14 November. From 1 August 1819 on he received an annual pension of 2,000 guilders for previous services (decision of 2 August 1819). Appointed an officer of the Légion d’honneur on 29 August 1824, allowed to wear the officers cross on 17 November of that year. He died in Nijmegen on 30 June 1833.