'Thomas Brown', 1743

Line engraving by Louis Peter Boitard, 1743.

Below the portrait, the following text: 'Mr Thomas Brown, born at Kirkleatham, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, about 28 Years of Age, & late a private Man in Brigadier Bland's Regiment of Dragoons. He Signaliz'd himself in a Most extraordinary Manner at the Battle of Dettingen; He had two Horses kill'd under Him; two fingers of the Bridle Hand Chopt off; & after retaking the Standard from the Gen d'Arms, whom he kill'd, He made his way thro' a Lane of the Enemy, ex-pos'd to fire & Sword; in the Execution of which He receiv'd 8 Cutts in the Face, Head & Neck; 2 Balls lodg'd in his Back; 3 went thro' his Hat; & in this hack'd Condition He rejoin'd his Regiment, who gave him three Huzzah's on his Arrival.'

Thomas or Tom Brown was a blacksmith's son from North Yorkshire and joined the King's Regiment of Dragoons less than a year before serving with it at the Battle of Dettingen. Aged 28 at the time of the battle, he rescued the regimental guidon after it was captured by the French, being wounded eight times and losing two horses from under him. King George II offered Brown a commission but he was illiterate and so unable to accept it - instead, he was placed in one of the Troops of Horse Guards. However, two musket balls in his back could not be extracted and he soon had to retire, dying of his wounds aged 31 at Yarm in January 1746.