David Ogilby (soldier) facts for kids

Sir David Ogilby (born around 1755, died 1834) was an army officer from Ireland. He worked for the East India Company in India, serving in their Madras Army. He became a knight because of his brave actions in the Anglo-Mysore Wars.

Early Life and Joining the Army

David Ogilby was born in Limavady, a town in County Londonderry, Ireland. His father, Alexander Ogilby, was a successful linen merchant. While his father had led a local militia group, the family didn't have a long history in the military.

We don't know his exact birth date for sure, but it was likely around 1755. When he was about 14 or 15, some records say he joined the Irish Volunteers, a local defense group.

Around 1780, David Ogilby decided to join the East India Company's army. He attended a special military school in England before sailing to India in early 1782. Soon after arriving in Madras, he became an ensign (a junior officer) in a Native Infantry group in the southern army.

Military Adventures in India (1782–1802)

David Ogilby first experienced battle in late 1783. He was part of attacks on Tipu Sultan's forts at Panchalankurichi, Sivagiri, and Palakkad Fort. In one fight, his group had to cover the retreat and help bring back wounded soldiers after a tough battle.

Later that year, while on guard duty at Coimbatore, he temporarily led his battalion. They successfully fought off a large attack by Tipu Sultan's cavalry. He also helped move about 20,000 cattle and sheep to feed the army. Another time, while moving supplies with a small group of soldiers, he had to retreat 15 miles across open plains, constantly attacked by 400 mounted soldiers. The Second Mysore War ended shortly after this.

Ogilby then joined the 1st Madras European Regiment and was soon given command of a company. He was promoted to lieutenant. When the Third Mysore War began, he led the native troops defending Dharapuram after it was captured in 1790.

He showed great courage during the capture of the important fort of Dindigul in July 1790. Because of his bravery, he was made Fort Adjutant. He stayed in this role until 1796. During this time, he helped bring the fertile Dindigul valley under control. He even managed to get the fortress of Uthamapalayam to surrender. He did this by taking two local leaders hostage. They claimed to be loyal to the Company, but Ogilby, who understood the Tamil language, overheard them planning something else. He received special thanks from the government for this achievement.

From 1796 to 1800, he commanded the army base at Namakkal. His job was to keep an eye on the strong outpost of Karur. He later said that before the Fourth Mysore War, he suggested a plan to Lord Clive to surprise and capture several forts, including Karur. He even claimed he entered Karur in disguise to gather information. His plan was well-received but not used at the time.

In 1796, Ogilby was given the honorary rank of captain in the King's army. In 1798, he was promoted to captain-lieutenant in the East India Company's service. Serving in India for a long time was very difficult for European soldiers due to the climate. In 1800, Ogilby was about to take a break due to his health. However, he learned that his group was needed by General Wellesley to fight an uprising led by Dhondia Wagh. Ogilby immediately traveled 600 miles to join the fight and help defeat Wagh's forces. He finally left India for a break in 1802, sailing to America.

America, Knighthood, and Marriage

In 1798, Ogilby had sadly buried his partner, Ann Campbell, and their four children in Tiruchirappalli, India.

In 1802, while in Boston, Massachusetts, he met Mary Tyler Cooke. She was 19 years old and the niece of a famous judge and playwright. They sailed to England and claimed to be married. By 1804, they were in Limavady, Ireland, where Mary gave birth to a daughter who sadly passed away.

On January 29, 1804, David Ogilby was made a knight by the Earl of Hardwicke, who was the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. A newspaper in Dublin reported that he was knighted "in consideration of a series of zealous and meritorious services to his country" during his 22 years in India. This was a special honor, as the Earl of Hardwicke only knighted three people during his time as Lord Lieutenant.

After he was knighted, a magazine called Walker's Hibernian Magazine published a congratulatory story about his military service. This story was also printed in India.

Sir David and "Lady Ogilby" then went to London. In October, he was promoted to Major. In 1806, they were getting ready to go back to Madras, India. A magazine called The Lady's Monthly Museum published a story about Lady Ogilby, praising her beauty and kindness.

The magazine also mentioned that during Ogilby's time in America, he traveled a lot. He shared seeds he had collected from places like Tahiti, India, and Mauritius with the people he met, teaching them how to grow them.

On May 27, 1806, Sir David Ogilby and Mary Tyler Cook officially married at a church in Portsea, England. Their infant son and daughter had been baptized the day before. Two weeks later, the family sailed back to India, arriving in Calcutta in November.

Return to Military Service (1807–1809)

Ogilby rejoined his regiment in India in March 1807 and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1808. He commanded the 1st Battalion of his regiment. His return to India happened during a time when many officers in the Madras Army were unhappy because their financial benefits had been reduced. By July 1809, there were serious disagreements among military officers in southern India. To solve this, all officers were asked to promise their support to the government.

Ogilby signed the promise, but he added that he did so because he believed supporting the government was important for the country. He also mentioned that he had been unwell and was dealing with personal sadness, which made it hard for him to do his job. This sadness was due to the death of Lady Ogilby in June.

His commanding officer, Major-General Croker, was disappointed that Ogilby didn't do more to help control the situation with the junior officers. Croker felt that Ogilby's health or sadness didn't excuse this. The Governor, Sir George Barlow, also expressed concern about how little help Ogilby had provided during this difficult time.

Ogilby was allowed to retire with full pay in October. He left his post shortly after the Governor's concerns were raised. He took his three children (one born in India) and his wife’s remains with him.

Later Years

In May 1814, Sir David remarried Elizabeth Dunkin in London. Five months later, his new wife, "the elegant Lady Ogilby," was reported to have bought many beautiful decorations from the Princess of Wales's home.

After King George IV was crowned, Ogilby was introduced to the King. He later attended Court several times. In May 1824, when Lady Ogilby accompanied him to St James's Palace, a newspaper described her fancy outfit in great detail. In 1823, the couple were involved in a legal case, claiming that a woman had spread false rumors about them. The Ogilbys' lawyer said Sir David was a "gentleman of rank who has acquired a high reputation by his public services," but they lost the case.

In 1820, Ogilby and his cousin started a business together, dealing in Irish goods. However, their business went bankrupt in 1826. Despite this financial problem, Sir David Ogilby remained active in high society. He was introduced to King William IV in October 1830 and even rented a cottage in Brighton when the King was expected to visit there in 1832.

Death and Family

On August 9, 1834, as Sir David Ogilby was returning to his home after dinner, his carriage overturned into a ditch, trapping him underneath. He died at the age of 78. He did not leave a will, and his personal belongings were valued at a small amount.

His widow, Elizabeth, lived until 1854. One of their sons, David Fitzroy Ogilby (1815-1871), became an army captain and later a cotton dealer. Sir David's son from his first marriage, Augustus Beaufort Ogilby (1804-1834), was also an army officer in India and died just a few weeks before his father. Sir David's sixteen-year-old daughter, Isabel Georgina, also passed away shortly before him.

Sir David had a granddaughter named Edith Alice Ogilby, who became an actress. One of her husbands, Hart O. Berg, was the business manager for the famous Wright Brothers. On October 7, 1908, Edith Alice Ogilby was a passenger in a two-minute flight with Wilbur Wright. This made her the first American woman to fly in a fixed-wing aircraft. The way she tied her dress for the flight is said to have influenced the design of the hobble skirt, a type of skirt that was narrow at the ankles.

Poetry

According to a magazine from 1804, Ogilby "produced many beautiful little pieces of lyric poetry." Some were original, and some were translations from Indian languages like Tamil. An example, "Elma. An Hindoo Lyric Poem translated from the original by Sir David Ogilby," was printed in the magazine. Because of this, he was included in a book called The Poets of Ireland, which described him as "a soldier of great distinction in India." No other poems by Ogilby have been published in Britain.

Portraits

The story about Ogilby in Walker's Hibernian Magazine came with a portrait of him. A portrait of his first wife, Lady Ogilby, was included in The Lady's Monthly Museum. This portrait was based on a miniature painting. A later portrait of Ogilby, painted by William Egley, was shown at the Royal Academy in 1824.

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