1-157-610 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Burial of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, Scottish-born British soldier, La Coruna, Spain, 1809 (c1885). Moore (1761-1809) commanded the British forces at the Battle of Corunna (La Coruna), Peninsular War, Spain 16 January 1809. Retreating from a much larger French army commanded by Marshal Soult, the British were able to hold the French off long enough to be evacuated by sea. Moore was mortally wounded in the battle, and was buried at midnight in La Coruna Citadel. He was the subject of Charles Wolfe's poem The Burial of Sir John Moore, published in 1817.