John Jarvis Bisset

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

John Jarvis Bisset (25 December 1819 - 25 March 1894) was a soldier and administrator of southern Africa.

He was the second son of Lt Alexander Bisset RN, and Alicia Smith, and descended from the Bissets of Beaulieu. His father brought his family to South Africa in 1820. Bisset grew up and settled on the frontier.

He served in the 6th, 7th and 8th Frontier wars, slowly rising to Lieutenant General.

In 1865 he was asked to take on the Governorship of Natal, during a time of war and trouble. He served until 1867. He later held commands in Gibraltar and Canada.

He married Charlotte Elizabeth, daughter of Dr A.B. Morgan of Cape Town. They had 3 sons and 4 daughters. He later remarried to Hannah Bridge, but had no further children.