Arthur James Lyon Fremantle

General Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle (11 November 1835 – 25 September 1901) was a British Army officer best known for his travels through the United States during the American Civil War. Whilst holding the rank of "Captain and Lieutenant Colonel" he spent three months, from 2 April to 16 July 1863, in a tour of North America, travelling through parts of the Confederate and Union territories. Contrary to popular belief, Fremantle was not an official representative of the British government, instead being merely a war tourist.

Early life and career

Fremantle was born into a distinguished military family; his father, Lieutenant-General John Fremantle, had commanded a battalion of the Coldstream Guards, and had served during the Peninsular War and Waterloo Campaign, as well as acting as aide-de-camp to Lieutenant-General John Whitelocke during the abortive British invasion of Buenos Aires in 1807. Arthur's middle name, Lyon, came from his mother, Agnes Lyon. He was called "Arthur" after the Duke of Wellington, who had been the first witness at his parents' wedding in 1829.

After his graduation from Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Arthur Fremantle was commissioned into the British Army in 1852, serving firstly as an ensign in the 70th Foot, before being transferred to the 52nd Foot almost immediately thereafter. The following year, Fremantle became ensign and lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards, and continued to receive promotions until, in 1860, at the age of 25, he held the rank of captain of his regiment and lieutenant colonel in the Army.