United Kingdom Austria-Hungary Kingdom of Sardinia United States Expedition of the Thousand American Civil War Colonel Percy Wyndham (22 September 1833 – 27 January 1879) was an English soldier and adventurer who served in the armed forces of several countries and saw active service during the Italian Risorgimento and the American Civil War.

[1][2] He said that in July of the same year he was commissioned into the French Navy as a "marine ensign", a form of midshipman, before briefly serving in the Royal Artillery of the British Army from 1851 to 1852.

He had continued to command a brigade until on 8 October 1861, following the outbreak of the American Civil War, he had been given leave to enable him to offer his services to the Union.

[5]Wyndham applied for promotion to Brigadier, with a recommendation from Major-General Joseph Hooker, who said of him "I found him capable, prompt, and efficient... and with an enemy in his front, enterprising and brave".

That completed, after several failed business ventures he journeyed to India[3] where, after selling his military decorations to support himself, he took to giving hot air ballooning demonstrations to earn a living.

He came to Calcutta some years ago, where he established a successful comic paper, then he became impresario of the opera, next he entered the services of the King of Burma as Commander-in-Chief.

Soon, however, quarrelling with that potentate, he went to Rangoon, where his characteristic death closed a career more chequered than falls the lot of many in this commonplace age."