William Amherst was a British military commander born on February 5, 1732 in Kent, England. He was commissioned as an ensign of the First Regiment of Foot Guards in 1755. As lieutenant-colonel, he commanded and defeated the French in 1762 at the Battle of Signal Hill, which was the last battle of the war. In 1769, he built a house on the Isle of Wight, which is the largest island in England. He named his estate St. John's, after the name of his victory in Newfoundland. He was promoted to Adjutant-General of the Forces in 1778 and died during that role on May 13, 1781.