Sir John Abercromby
Encyclopedia
General Sir John Abercromby or Abercrombie GCB
(2 April 1772 – 14 February 1817) served as a British soldier. The second son of Sir Ralph Abercromby
, he entered the army in 1786 as an ensign in the 75th Highland Regiment
, then commanded by his uncle Robert Abercromby of Airthrey
. He gained promotion to lieutenant in 1787, and to captain in 1792. He subsequently served as an ADC
to his father during campaigns in Flanders
(1793–1794), the West Indies (1796–1797), Ireland
(1798) and against the Batavian Republic
(1799). His father relied heavily on his talents as a skilful officer. Promoted to colonel in 1800, he left his father's staff, but became deputy adjutant general
and served under General Hutchinson
in the force led by his father to Egypt
(1801). His father died in battle at Alexandria
; but John continued to render admirable service, for which General Hutchinson commended him.
When war broke out anew in 1803 the French detained Abercromby while travelling in France and imprisoned him at Verdun
for the next five years. During his captivity he received promotion to major-general in 1805 and the appointment as colonel of the 53rd Regiment of Foot
in 1807. Exchanged in 1808 for General Brenier
, he became Commander-in-Chief, Bombay in 1809. From thence he led the forces that captured Mauritius
in 1810, returning to Bombay in 1811. In 1812 he transferred to become Commander-in-Chief, Madras, with promotion to lieutenant-general. The Indian climate had broken his health, however, and he had to return to Britain at the end of 1813, where he received the KCB
. He became GCB
in 1815, and succeeded his elder brother George
as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire
. However, his worsening health drove him to the Continent, and he died in Marseilles in 1817.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(2 April 1772 – 14 February 1817) served as a British soldier. The second son of Sir Ralph Abercromby
Ralph Abercromby
Sir Ralph Abercromby was a Scottish soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.He twice served as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire, and was...
, he entered the army in 1786 as an ensign in the 75th Highland Regiment
75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot
The 75th Regiment of Foot was a British Army line infantry regiment. During the Childers Reforms it was united with the 92nd Regiment of Foot to form the Gordon Highlanders.-Service history:...
, then commanded by his uncle Robert Abercromby of Airthrey
Robert Abercromby of Airthrey
General Sir Robert Abercromby GCB , the youngest brother of Sir Ralph Abercromby, was a general in the army, a knight of the Bath, and at one period the governor of Bombay and commander-in-chief of the British forces in India.-Military career:...
. He gained promotion to lieutenant in 1787, and to captain in 1792. He subsequently served as an ADC
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to his father during campaigns in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
(1793–1794), the West Indies (1796–1797), Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(1798) and against the Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
(1799). His father relied heavily on his talents as a skilful officer. Promoted to colonel in 1800, he left his father's staff, but became deputy adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
and served under General Hutchinson
John Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore
General John Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore GCB was an Anglo-Irish politician, hereditary peer and soldier.-Background:He was the son of John Hely-Hutchinson and the Baroness Donoughmore...
in the force led by his father to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
(1801). His father died in battle at Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
; but John continued to render admirable service, for which General Hutchinson commended him.
When war broke out anew in 1803 the French detained Abercromby while travelling in France and imprisoned him at Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
for the next five years. During his captivity he received promotion to major-general in 1805 and the appointment as colonel of the 53rd Regiment of Foot
53rd Regiment of Foot
The 53rd Regiment of Foot was a British Army regiment founded in 1755. In 1881, as part of the Childers Reforms, it became The King's Shropshire Light Infantry Regiment. Its traditions are currently held by the 3rd battalion of The Light Infantry....
in 1807. Exchanged in 1808 for General Brenier
Antoine François Brenier de Montmorand
Antoine-François Brenier de Montmorand served as a French general of division during the period of the First French Empire and became an officer of the Légion d'honneur.-Early career:...
, he became Commander-in-Chief, Bombay in 1809. From thence he led the forces that captured Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
in 1810, returning to Bombay in 1811. In 1812 he transferred to become Commander-in-Chief, Madras, with promotion to lieutenant-general. The Indian climate had broken his health, however, and he had to return to Britain at the end of 1813, where he received the KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
. He became GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1815, and succeeded his elder brother George
George Abercromby, 2nd Baron Abercromby
George Abercromby, 2nd Baron Abercromby was a Scottish lawyer, politician and peer. The eldest son of Lt.-Gen. Sir Ralph Abercromby and Mary Abercromby, 1st Baroness Abercromby, he became, like his grandfather, a lawyer, and was called to the Bar in 1794...
as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire
Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire (UK Parliament constituency)
Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire were constituencies of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918....
. However, his worsening health drove him to the Continent, and he died in Marseilles in 1817.