Peter Bonnevaux
Peter Bonnevaux | |
|---|---|
| 4th Military Governor of British Ceylon | |
| In office 2 July 1797 – 12 July 1797 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | Welbore Ellis Doyle |
| Succeeded by | Pierre Frédéric de Meuron |
| 3rd General Officer Commanding, Ceylon | |
| In office 30 June 1797 – 1797 | |
| Preceded by | Welbore Ellis Doyle |
| Succeeded by | Pierre Frédéric de Meuron |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pierre Daillé 1741 Saumur, France |
| Died | 12 July 1797 (aged 55–56) Colombo, British Ceylon |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Great Britain |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1768–1797 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Unit | 10th Madras Native Infantry |
| Commands | Commandant, Kondapalli Commandant, Galle General Officer Commanding, Ceylon |
Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Bonnevaux (born Pierre Daillé; 1741 – 12 July 1797) was the fourth Military Governor of British Ceylon and third General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. A French national, Bonnevaux was watchmaker at the Palace of Versailles before leaving for England to escape Protestant prosecution in 1765. Having joined the East India Company's Madras Army, Bonnevaux rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the 10th Madras Native Infantry.
Fighting in the French Revolutionary Wars, Bonnevaux commanded an infantry brigade during the Invasion of Ceylon and afterwards stayed there as commandant of Galle. On 2 July 1797 he was appointed General Officer Commanding and Military Governor of Ceylon, but died ten days later when his curricle overturned as he was leaving Colombo.