THE SWISS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 1652-1970 - swissroots-za.ch

KAB, CO 4313: 309, 3.11.1809; 14 KAB, QQR 70 (Grants George 1814-1914),
4.11.1814 & 7.7.1815; 15 KAB, DO, T 5.1.1819; 16 KAB, DO, T 19.10.1821; 17 KAB, J
405, Port Elizabeth 1822; 18 KAB, J 235; 19 Cape Almanacs 1829-1831; 20 KAB, CO
4317: 1036; 21 KAB, CO 6139, Civil List: Post Office; 22 KAB, CO 4322: 502.
De la Raître, François-Moulé, Chevalier born Lausanne VD. Entered as Cadet –
Sergeant, Ensign and Titular Sub-Lieutenant, 1.6.1781. Ensign 15.8.1785, Lieutenant
1.6.1787. Resigned in Ceylon, 10.1.1791. 1 Killed a French sailor in self-defence,
28.8.1783. 2 / 1 Meuron, Guy de: Le Régiment Meuron, 1781-1816, p. 325; 2 KAB, CJ
120: Originale Rollen en Minuten, 28.8.1783, p. 115; CJ 418: Documents in Criminal
Cases, 28.8.1783, p. 755.
Delloy, Benoît / Laurent-Benoît born Porrentruy JU. Entered as Captain Lieutenant,
1.6.1781. Died at the Cape, 6.1.1788. / 1 Meuron, Guy de: Le Régiment Meuron, 1781-
1816, p. 305
De Meuron, Charles-Daniel born Saint Sulpice NE 1738. Served September 1755-
August 1763 in the Swiss Regiment Hallwyl based at Rochefort, initially as Ensign,
then as Sub-Lieutenant. On campaign at Martinique, December 1757-January 1759.
Entered the Swiss Guards as Sub-Lieutenant January 1765, appointed Chevalier de
l’Ordre Royal du Mérite militaire, 30.5 or 2.6.1773. Received a commission for the
rank of colonel, 21.6.1778. Signed a contract with the Dutch East India Company, to
raise a Swiss-Neuchatelese regiment under his name, of which he wass to become
Proprietary Colonel. Arrived at the Cape with the regiment on 7.2.1783. 1 While in Cape
Town he resided in a house which he bought on 2.6.1784 from Abraham Chiron and
sold on 23.3.1786 to Petrus Johannes Truter. 2 In March 1786 he entrusted the command
of the regiment to his brother Pierre-Frederic and embarked for Europe. Travelled to the
Netherlands and to Berlin, where in October 1789 he received the title of Chamberalin
of the King of Prussia. During 1791 he made another trip to the Netherlands, England
and Berlin, returning to St. Sulpice in autumn 1792. In March/April 1795 he negotiated
the transfer of the Regiment Meuron into British service with Hugh Cleghorn, envoy of
the Government in London. Appointed Major-General in the British army, 30.3.1795.
While at the Cape collected plants which are now part of the natural history
specimens which he donated 6.6.1795 to and are now preserved by the town of
Neuchatel. He is commemorated in Erica meuronii Benth. 3 Travelled to India for
effecting the transfer of his regiment into British service. Took residence in Madras and
signed the Contract of Madras, 2.8.1796. During 1797 returned to London to conclude
the Contract of London on 25.9.1798. In June 1800 he received the Order of the Red
Eagle in Berlin, then retired to Neuchatel. Was appointed Lieutenant-General in the
British Army, 9.4.1802, and died 4.4.1806. 4
/ 1 A. Linder: The Swiss Regiment Meuron at the Cape and afterwards, 1781-1816, p.
29; 2 KAB, DO, ZK 8/4/1 : T5730, 2.6.1784 and T6009, 23.3.1786; 3 Gunn & Codd, p.
129; 4 Meuron, Guy de: Le Régiment Meuron, 1781-1816, p. 317.
De Meuron, Pierre-Frederic born Saint Sulpice NE. Entered as Captain, with rank of
Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel, 1.6.1781. Commanding Colonel, 1.4.1787. Commanded
the regiment at the Cape immediately before its departure, and later in Ceylon wher he
led two campaigns against the subjects of the King of Kandy. Brigadier-General,
30.3.1795. President of the De Meuron Committee and commander of the British troops
on Ceylon, June 1797-February 1799. Major-General, 1.1.1798. Returned to Europe,
96