Sir Kenneth Douglas, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Sir Kenneth MacKenzie Douglas, 1st Baronet (1754–1833), born Kenneth MacKenzie, was the first Baronet of the Douglas of Glenbervie, Kincardine Baronetcy
(second creation). He was created baronet in 1831.
Born as Kenneth MacKenzie in Dundee
in 1754, his father was Kenneth Mackenzie, of Kilcoy
, Ross-shire
, and his mother Janet, a daughter of Sir Robert Douglas, 6th Baronet of Glenbervie
(first creation).
He was commissioned as an ensign
in the 33rd Foot in 1767, and was promoted lieutenant
in 1775. MacKenzie transferred to the 14th Foot in 1783. He served in Guernsey
, the West Indies, Flanders
, Gibraltar
, and Egypt
. He joined the 90th Foot in 1784, when, under Thomas Graham, (later Lord Lynedoch), he trained light company troops. On the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Ogilvie of the 44th Foot, Mackenzie transferred to that regiment, taking command.
Following a decision by the British Army to train some line regiments
in light infantry
techniques, Sir John Moore, a proponent of the light infantry model, offered his own regiment of line infantry, the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot
, for this training, at Shorncliffe Camp
. Mackenzie was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 52nd. They formed a brigade
with the 95th Rifles, and three line regiments. Much of the training was undertaken by Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth MacKenzie, who devised many of the tactics of light infantry training, He was responsible for many of the drills and exercises of the "Shorncliffe System".
Injured after a fall from a horse in late 1803, he took leave, during which time he married Rachel Andrews, of Shorncliffe. (They had 6 sons and one daughter.) He saw some active service at Cadiz
, but his health remained poor, and he spent most of the war convalesceing in England. In 1811 he was given command of the light infantry troops then in England.
Made baronet in 1831 he also changed his surname to Douglas that year. He died in 1833 and was succeeeded by his son Robert Andrew Douglas.
Douglas Baronets
The Douglas of Glenbervie, Kincardine Baronetcy was created on 28 May 1625 in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. The Douglas of Kelhead, Scotland Baronetcy was created 26 February 1668 in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia....
(second creation). He was created baronet in 1831.
Born as Kenneth MacKenzie in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
in 1754, his father was Kenneth Mackenzie, of Kilcoy
Kilcoy Castle
Kilcoy Castle is a 17th-century castle near Muir of Ord on the Black Isle, in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland.-History:The castle was built by Alexander Mackenzie, third son of Colin Cam Mackenzie of Kintail...
, Ross-shire
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
, and his mother Janet, a daughter of Sir Robert Douglas, 6th Baronet of Glenbervie
Sir Robert Douglas, 6th Baronet
Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, 6th Baronet was a notable genealogist responsible for one of the major works on Scottish families, The Baronage of Scotland.-Works:...
(first creation).
He was commissioned as an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 33rd Foot in 1767, and was promoted lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in 1775. MacKenzie transferred to the 14th Foot in 1783. He served in Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
, the West Indies, 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...
, Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, and 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...
. He joined the 90th Foot in 1784, when, under Thomas Graham, (later Lord Lynedoch), he trained light company troops. On the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Ogilvie of the 44th Foot, Mackenzie transferred to that regiment, taking command.
Following a decision by the British Army to train some line regiments
Line infantry
Line infantry is a type of infantry which composed the basis of European land armies from the middle of the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century....
in light infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
techniques, Sir John Moore, a proponent of the light infantry model, offered his own regiment of line infantry, the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot
52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot
The 52nd Regiment of Foot was a light infantry regiment of the British Army throughout much of the 18th and 19th centuries. The regiment first saw active service during the American War of Independence, and were posted to India during the Anglo-Mysore Wars...
, for this training, at Shorncliffe Camp
Shorncliffe Redoubt
Shorncliffe Redoubt is a British Napoleonic earthwork fort of great historic importance, as it is the birthplace of modern light infantry tactics...
. Mackenzie was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 52nd. They formed a brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
with the 95th Rifles, and three line regiments. Much of the training was undertaken by Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth MacKenzie, who devised many of the tactics of light infantry training, He was responsible for many of the drills and exercises of the "Shorncliffe System".
Injured after a fall from a horse in late 1803, he took leave, during which time he married Rachel Andrews, of Shorncliffe. (They had 6 sons and one daughter.) He saw some active service at Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, but his health remained poor, and he spent most of the war convalesceing in England. In 1811 he was given command of the light infantry troops then in England.
Made baronet in 1831 he also changed his surname to Douglas that year. He died in 1833 and was succeeeded by his son Robert Andrew Douglas.