LOWE, SIR HUDSON (1769-1844), English general, was the son of an army surgeon, John Lowe, and was born at Galway on July 28, 1769 and was gazetted ensign in his 12th year. After the outbreak of war with France early in the year 1793, Lowe was almost continuously on active service, holding many important commands, throughout the Napoleonic Wars. Charged with the duties of quartermaster-general of the army in the Netherlands in 1814-15, he was about to take part in the Belgian campaign when he was offered the command of the British troops at Genoa; but while still in the south of France he received (on Aug. 1, 1815) news of his appointment to the position of custodian of Napoleon, who had surrendered to H.M.S. "Bellerophon" off Rochefort. Lowe was to be governor of St. Helena, the place of the ex-emperor's exile.
Friction soon arose between Lowe and his prisoner. The news that rescue expeditions were being planned by the Bonapartists in the United States led to the enforcement of stricter regulations in October 1816, Lowe causing sentries to be posted round Long wood garden at sunset instead of at 9 P.M. He was accused of
unnecessary harshness in carrying out his instructions. It may, however, be noted that Lowe recommended that the government allowance of L8,000 a year to the Longwood household should be increased by one-half. After the death of Napoleon in May 1821, Lowe returned to England and received the thanks of George IV. In 1825-30 he commanded the forces in Ceylon, but was not ap pointed to the governorship when it fell vacant in 1830. In 1842 he became colonel of his old regiment, the 50th; he also received the G.C.M.G. He died in See W. Forsyth, History of the Captivity of Napoleon at St. Helena (3 vols., London, 1853) ; Gourgaud, Journal inedite de Sainte-Helene (1815-18; 2 vols., Paris, 1899) ; R. C. Seaton, Napoleon's Captivity in relation to Sir Hudson Lowe (London, 1903) ; Lieut.-Col. Basil Jackson, Notes and Reminiscences of a Staff-Officer (London, 5903) ; the earl of Rosebery, Napoleon; the Last Phase (London, 1900) ; J. H. Rose, Napoleonic Studies (London, 1904) see also NAPOLEON.