| Tarleton helmet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Combat helmet |
| Place of origin | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1789–1815 |
| Used by | Kingdom of Great Britain (1789–1801) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1815) |
| Wars | American War of Independence Napoleonic Wars |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Disputed |
TheTarleton helmet, also called theTarleton cap,[1] is a type of 18th-centurymilitary headgear unofficially named in honour of then-Lieutenant Colonel SirBanastre Tarleton. Described by contemporary sources as among the "handsomest" helmets of its period,[2] it was generally worn bylight infantry andlight cavalry units. The helmet featured a leather or metal shell with neoclassical decorative elements, topped with a tall fur crest—commonly made of bearskin or horsehair (or wool for ranks below officers). It was in-service between approximately 1789 and 1815, though personnel wore it unofficially earlier.[3]
The helmet gained its name via association withBanastre Tarleton, the British hero of theAmerican War of Independence, It may have been introduced to the British Army by Lt. Gen.William Keppel around 1771, who was himself inspired by European dragoons wearing a similar helmet.[4]
It is widely written that Tarleton adopted the helmet with theBritish Legion, wearing it himself in battle and in portraits by artists such asSir Joshua Reynolds. The helmet officially entered service with Britishdragoon regiments in 1789[5][better source needed] and continued to be worn by light dragoon regiments until about 1812, as well as byhorse artillery units through the end of the Napoleonic Wars.[6]
Similar helmet styles appeared across Europe, including theRaupenhelm [de] ("caterpillar helmet") in Bavaria, which remained standard until replaced by thePickelhaube following KingLudwig II of Bavaria's death in 1886.[7]
Elements of the Tarleton helmet's design, such as the rear tassel, influenced dragoon helmets later in the 19th century.[8][dubious –discuss] The then-Prince of Wales (and eventualKing George IV) is thought to be shown wearing a version of the Tarleton helmet inSir William Beechey's 1798 paintingGeorge III and the Prince of Wales Reviewing Troops.[9]
Perhaps the most iconic headgear of the entire war, this leather helmet with a sturdy tapered peak was adorned by a fur crest and dyed feather plume. The British cavalry certainly came to refer to this dragoon headdress as a "Tarleton" Helmet. But it was in use in various forms on the European continent well before the war and was in fact introduced to the British by Lt. Gen. William Keppel in 1771. There is doubt too that Ban even introduced it to the British Legion, with Lord Cathcart (the regiment's original commander and later Quartermaster General of the entire army) being it's more likely sponsor. Regarded as the best looking headgear of the war, its attractiveness was such that it was worn by both British and American forces and long survived the conflict, being in common usage in the British army until 1812 when it was replaced by the more robust French-influenced shako.