William Mactier (MacTier) was born in Cumbria on 16 July 1793, the son of Alexander and Rosanna Mactier. He joined the army in 1810 as a cornet in the 4th Bengal Native Cavalry and fought in the 3rd Maharatta War. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 Sep 1818 and appointed QM and Interpreter until 1824. He was in the operations in Kotah in 1821, and was with the regiment at Mangrol on 1 October when the three Troops refused to follow their CO into battle. He spent some time away from the regiment after that but was involved in the Shekhawat Expedition of 1834 with the rank of Captain. He officiated as Deputy Judge Advocate General from 1838 to 1842.
He was promoted to major on 13 Jan 1842 and commanded the 4th BLC (Lancers) in the Gwalior Campaign, fighting at Maharajpore. In the First Sikh War he led the 3rd Cavalry Brigade at Mudki and was severely wounded. He also fought at Ferozeshah as a brevet lieutenant-colonel. He was awarded Companion of the Order of the Bath. He was posted to the 1st BLC in 1851 as Lieutenant-Colonel, and to the 2nd BLC the following year.
He was married to Harriet Armstrong in Muttra on 10 June 1821. He died at Indore on 16 Sep 1855. The memorial plaque was placed by his widow on the wall of St Andrews Church, Calcutta.
