Alexander Abercromby (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Abercromby
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Alexander Abercromby
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| Born | 4 March 1784 |
| Died | 27 August 1853 (aged 69) |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1799–1815 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands held | 28th Regiment of Foot Coldstream Guards |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
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| Relations | Sir Ralph Abercromby (father) Sir John Abercromby (brother) |
| Other work | MP for Clackmannanshire (1817–1818) |
Colonel Alexander Abercromby (born March 4, 1784 – died August 27, 1853) was an important officer in the British Army. He fought in the Napoleonic Wars, which were big conflicts in Europe. For a short time, he was also a Member of Parliament, helping to make laws for his country.
Contents
A Brave Soldier's Story
Alexander Abercromby was the youngest son of Sir Ralph Abercromby. His father was also a famous British general. Alexander joined the army when he was quite young. In 1799, he was a volunteer with the 92nd Regiment. He took part in a military trip to a place called Helder.
Soon after, he became an officer. He served with his regiment in Egypt. In 1806, he became an aide-de-camp to Sir John Moore. This meant he was a personal assistant to a senior officer. He worked with Sir John Moore in Sicily.
Rising Through the Ranks
Alexander was promoted quickly, just like his brother, Sir John. By 1808, when he was only 24, he became a lieutenant-colonel. He led the 28th Regiment. His regiment was sent to Portugal to help Lord Wellesley. This was after the battle of Talavera.
He bravely led his regiment in the battle of Busaco. He also served in the lines of Torres Vedras, which were strong defenses. As a senior colonel, he was lucky enough to command his brigade. This was during the important battle of Albuera. His actions there were very noticeable. His brigade became famous because of how well they fought.
Later, he commanded his regiment again. This was at the surprise attack at Arroyo de Molinos. He also led them at the storming of the forts at Almaraz.
Staff Officer and Major Battles
In 1812, Alexander joined the army's staff. This meant he worked in planning and organization. He was an assistant-quartermaster-general. In this role, he was present at several major battles. These included the Battle of Vittoria. He also fought in the Pyrenees and at Orthes.
He continued this role in 1815. He was present at the Battle of Quatre-Bras. He also fought in the famous Battle of Waterloo. After that, he was part of the attack on Péronne.
After the Wars
For his excellent service, Alexander was promoted to colonel. He joined the 2nd or Coldstream Guards. He also received many important awards. These included the Order of the Bath from Britain. He also got awards from Austria, Portugal, and Russia.
In 1817, he became a Member of Parliament. He represented the area of Clackmannan. He took over from his brother, Sir John. However, he left politics the next year.
He was in command of the 2nd Guards. But he retired when there seemed to be no more wars coming. He passed away at his home in Scotland on August 27, 1853. Alexander Abercromby was a very skilled officer. He was good at leading regiments and working on staff. The long period of peace after Waterloo meant he didn't get to command a whole army.
Honours and Awards
Alexander Abercromby received several important awards for his bravery and service:
- Companion of the Order of the Bath (1815)
- Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword (Portugal)
- Knight of the Military Order of Maria Theresa (Austria)
- Fourth Class, Order of St. George (Russia)
