John Abercromby (British Army officer)

Sir John Abercromby or Abercrombie GCB (April 2, 1772 – February 14, 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.

References

* [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/people/famousfirst2866.html The Gazetteer for Scotland]
* [http://www.thepeerage.com/e44.htm thePeerage.com]