Roberts, Frederick Sleigh (1832-1914), Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Pretoria, and Waterford, was a famous British general. He was born on Sept. 30, 1832, in Cawnpore (now Kanpur), India, the son of a British general. After a military education, he served as an officer in the Indian Army for 25 years. He gained distinction in dealing with transport and supply problems. In 1880, he led a famous march to relieve Kandahar, which was being attacked by the Afghans. In 1885, he was made commander in chief of the Indian Army.
During the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, Roberts became commander in chief of the British Army in South Africa. The British situation was doubtful when he took command. By using more mounted troops and improving the transport system, he increased the army’s mobility. These changes and Roberts’s campaign strategy brought victory.
When the war was almost over, Roberts returned to England to become commander in chief of the British Army and to receive an earldom. He retired from active duty in the army in 1914 and died on November 14 of that year. Beloved by his troops, he was known as “Bobs.”
