James Gardiner (British Army officer) facts for kids
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Colonel James Gardiner (born 1688, died 1745) was a brave Scottish soldier. He served in the British Army for many years. He fought in important battles, including the 1745 Jacobite rising. Colonel Gardiner sadly died during this uprising at the Battle of Prestonpans.
Life of Colonel James Gardiner
James Gardiner was born in Carriden, Scotland, in 1688. He went to school in Linlithgow. When he was just fourteen years old, he joined the army. He was a very good soldier and fought bravely in many battles. Because of his courage, he was promoted often. By 1743, he had become a Colonel.
In his younger days, Gardiner was known for living a wild life. However, in 1719, he had a special religious experience. This changed his life completely, and he became a very devout and religious person. In 1726, he married Frances Erskine. She was the daughter of David Erskine, the 9th Earl of Buchan. They had thirteen children together, but only five of them lived to become adults.
Colonel Gardiner faced many dangers as a soldier. During the Battle of Ramillies, he was shot in the mouth. A French soldier thought he was dead and came to take his belongings. Luckily, the French soldier mistook Gardiner for one of his own. This saved Gardiner's life.
His final battle was the Battle of Prestonpans. During this fight, his own soldiers, called dragoons, ran away. Colonel Gardiner bravely tried to gather some foot soldiers to continue fighting. While doing so, he was seriously injured by the Highlanders. He was carried from the battlefield by a servant to a nearby town called Tranent. He died there soon after. By chance, Colonel Gardiner lived very close to the battlefield, in a place called Bankton House.
Remembering Colonel Gardiner
A very important book about Colonel Gardiner's life was written by Philip Doddridge. People still remember him today. In 1853, a tall stone monument, called an obelisk, was built in his honor. It stands in the grounds of Bankton House. This monument was paid for by public donations. More recently, a monument was placed on the battlefield itself. It marks the spot where he was injured.
Colonel Gardiner has also appeared in plays and books. A play called Colonel Gardiner: Vice and Virtue was written by Andrew Dallmeyer. It was performed in 2009. He is also a character in the famous novel Waverley by Walter Scott. In the book, a character named Edward Waverley briefly serves in Gardiner's army. The novel describes Colonel Gardiner as "tall, handsome and active, though somewhat advanced in years."
