John Abercromby (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir John Abercromby
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John Ambercromby (left=18) at his father's death (1801)
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| Born | 2 April 1772 |
| Died | 14 February 1817 (aged 44) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands held | Bombay Army Madras Army |
| Battles/wars | Napoleonic Wars |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Sir John Abercromby (born April 2, 1772 – died February 14, 1817) was an important British Army officer. He reached the high rank of Lieutenant-General. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Clackmannanshire from 1815 until he died in 1817.
Contents
Sir John's Family Life
John Abercromby was born into a well-known family. His father was Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, a famous military leader. His mother was Mary Abercromby, 1st Baroness Abercromby.
John had several brothers and sisters. His older brother was George. His younger brothers were James and Alexander. He also had three sisters named Anne, Mary, and Catherine.
A Military Career Begins
Early Army Days (1782-1802)
John Abercromby joined the army when he was just 10 years old in 1782. He started as a cornet, which was a junior officer rank in the cavalry. In 1786, he moved to the 75th Highland Regiment as an ensign, another junior officer rank.
He quickly moved up the ranks. He became a lieutenant in 1787 and a captain in 1792. John often worked as an aide-de-camp (a personal assistant) for his father. He joined his father in many military campaigns. These included battles in Flanders (1793–1794) and the West Indies (1796–1797). He also served in Ireland (1798) and against the Batavian Republic (1799).
By 1800, John was promoted to colonel. He then became a deputy adjutant general, a senior staff officer. He served under General Hutchinson in Egypt (1801), where his father was leading the forces. Sadly, his father died in battle there. But John continued to serve bravely and was praised for his excellent work.
Prisoner of War and Commander (1803-1817)
When a new war started in 1803, John Abercromby was traveling in France. The French army captured him and held him as a prisoner. He was kept in Verdun for five long years.
Even while he was a prisoner, he continued to be promoted. He became a major-general in 1805. In 1807, he was given the important role of colonel for the 53rd Regiment of Foot for life. In 1808, he was finally released. He was "exchanged" for another general, meaning they traded prisoners.
After his release, John Abercromby became the Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army in 1809. This was a major leadership role in India. From there, he led the British forces that captured Mauritius in 1810. He then returned to Bombay in 1811.
In 1813, he moved to lead the Madras Army, another important British army in India. He also temporarily acted as the Governor of Madras. He was promoted again to lieutenant-general. However, the hot climate in India made him very sick. He had to return to Britain at the end of 1813. There, he received a special award, becoming a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
In 1815, he received an even higher honor, becoming a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. He also became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Clackmannanshire. This meant he helped make laws for the country. However, his health continued to get worse. He traveled to Europe for his health but sadly died in Marseilles in 1817.
See also
- Records of members of parliament of the United Kingdom
