Major-General Sir Edward Michael Pakenham, GCB (19 March 1778 – 8 January 1815), was a British Army officer and politician.

Pakenham served with the 23rd Light Dragoons against the French in Ireland during the 1798 Rebellion and later in Nova Scotia, Barbados, and Saint Croix.

He also received the Army Gold Cross and clasps for the battles of Martinique, Busaco, Fuentes de Oñoro, Salamanca, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthez, and Toulouse.

In August 1814, Vice Admiral Cochrane had finally convinced the Admiralty that a campaign against New Orleans would weaken American resolve against Canada, and hasten a successful end to the war.

[4] To this end, an expeditionary force of about 8,000 troops under General Edward Pakenham had arrived in the Gulf Coast, to attack New Orleans.

[7] After the failure of this operation Pakenham met with General Keane and Admiral Cochrane that evening for an update on the situation.

Pakenham wanted to use Chef Menteur Pass as the invasion route, but he was overruled by Admiral Cochrane, who insisted that his boats were providing everything needed.

After yet another failure to breach Line Jackson Pakenham decided to wait for his entire force of 8,000 men to assemble before continuing his attack.

Pakenham summoned his Assistant Adjutant General (AAG), Major Harry Smith, and informed him Thornton's delayed troops would have no impact upon the main attack on the Left Bank.

The other regiments were already advancing behind the 44th, the party of 300 lost formation as they struggled to reach the redoubt, and as day dawned, the attack commenced before the supplies could be brought forward.

[16] As Pakenham rallied his troops near the enemy line, grapeshot from US artillery shattered his left knee and killed his horse.

Wellington had held Pakenham in high regard and was deeply saddened by news of his death, commenting: We have but one consolation, that he fell as he lived, in the honourable discharge of his duty and distinguished as a soldier and a man.

The Americans were prepared with an army in a fortified position which still would have been carried, if the duties of others, that is of the Admiral (Sir Alexander Cochrane), had been as well performed as that of he whom we now lament.

[22] His body was returned in a cask of rum and buried in the Pakenham family vault in Killucan in County Westmeath, Ireland.