John Blackadder (soldier) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Blackadder
Portrait of Lieutenant-Colonel John Blackadder (or Blackader), 1664-1729; published 1824
Born	14 September 1664 Glencairn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Died	31 August 1729(1729-08-31) (aged 64) Stirling, Scotland
Nationality	Scottish
Occupation	Soldier
Known for	Lieutenant-colonel of the Cameronian Regiment

Lieutenant-Colonel John Blackadder (born 14 September 1664 – died 31 August 1729) was a Scottish soldier. He served in the Cameronian Regiment during the late 1600s and early 1700s.

John was the fifth son of a minister named John Blackadder. He had very strong religious beliefs, similar to his father. In 1689, he joined the Cameronians, a special army group known for its religious members. They fought for King William III.

He served with his regiment in Flanders (modern-day Belgium and Netherlands). During this time, he was involved in a duel where another officer died, but he was later pardoned by the King. He also fought in the War of the Spanish Succession. John was wounded in the Battle of Blenheim and twice more during the siege of Lille. After the Battle of Malplaquet, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and took command of the regiment. He left the army two years later and moved to Edinburgh.

In his later life, John focused on church matters. He became a member of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. During the Jacobite rising of 1715, he led a regiment of volunteers in Glasgow to protect the city. After the war, he became the deputy-governor of Stirling Castle.

Early Life and Family

John Blackadder was born in September 1664 in Glencairn, Scotland. He was the fifth son of John Blackadder and Janet Haining. His father was a Presbyterian minister who faced difficulties for his beliefs. In 1662, his father was removed from his church, forbidden to preach, and even imprisoned on the Bass Rock, where he later died.

John's older brothers included William, who became a doctor, and Adam, who wrote about the covenanting movement.

Soon after John was born, his father began preaching secretly in outdoor meetings called conventicles. In 1666, soldiers raided their family home, and the family had to separate. John spent some time with his father during this period. He received a basic classical education from him. In the 1680s, he attended humanities classes at the University of Edinburgh, but he did not officially become a student.

Joining the Army

John Blackadder had very strong religious views, just like his father. In 1689, he learned that a regiment of soldiers was being formed from members of the Cameronian movement, a Presbyterian group. He decided to volunteer as a cadet. He was quickly promoted to lieutenant, likely because he knew William Cleland, who was the lieutenant-colonel and whom he had met at the university. He was first a lieutenant in the fourteenth company.

The regiment was formed to fight in the Jacobite rising of 1689. They were present at the final Battle of Dunkeld in August of that year. Here, they made the town stronger and held off a large force of Highlanders. John Blackadder himself was not hurt, even though "several [people were] falling on my right and left hand."

Fighting in Europe

After guarding duty in Montrose, the Cameronians moved to Flanders to fight in the Nine Years' War. John Blackadder, now a lieutenant in the thirteenth company, went with them. In December 1691, while the regiment was staying in Maastricht, John was challenged to a duel by Lieutenant Robert Murray. The duel resulted in Murray's death. John was put on trial for this, but the King pardoned him in May of the next year, and he was able to return to his position. This event did not seem to harm his standing in the regiment. In January 1693, he was promoted to captain and given command of a company.

His regiment fought in the battles of Steenkirk in August 1692, and Landen in July 1693. The regiment stayed in the Low Countries for some time. In 1702, when the War of the Spanish Succession began, they returned to Europe. They were part of an army led by Marlborough.

With his regiment, John Blackadder fought at Schellenberg and Blenheim in 1704. At Blenheim, he was wounded, but he recovered. In October 1705, he was promoted to Major. He then served at Ramillies in 1706, and Oudenarde and Wynendaele in 1708. In the same year, his regiment helped to besiege Lille, where John was wounded twice more.

At the Battle of Malplaquet in 1709, the regiment's colonel, Cranston, was wounded. John Blackadder was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and took over command. He led the regiment for two years, through the sieges of Douai and Bouchain. In 1711, he sold his command to George Forrester, 5th Lord Forrester and left the army on 12 October.

Life After the Army

After leaving the regiment in the Netherlands, John Blackadder returned to Scotland. He lived in Edinburgh and later in Stirling. He became very involved with the Church of Scotland. He became an elder in his local church and a member of the General Assembly.

During the Jacobite rising of 1715, a regiment of loyal volunteers was formed in Glasgow. They were ordered to guard Stirling, which was under threat from Highlanders who had taken over Perth. After the volunteers arrived in Stirling, John Blackadder was made their colonel on 20 September. He trained the volunteers through September and October. On 12 November, he was told that a Jacobite force was moving south. His regiment was sent to guard the bridge that controlled access to the city from the north. John stayed with them through the night.

The Jacobite force fought against regular government soldiers the next day at the Battle of Sherrifmuir, about eight miles north-east of Stirling. The Jacobites were forced to retreat. However, the battle was not clearly won at first. John Blackadder kept his forces on the bridge all day, believing that the government army might have been defeated and that the city would soon be attacked. The volunteer regiment was sent home on 22 November. This happened after news of the Battle of Preston on 18 November made it clear that the Jacobite threat was over. John then joined the main government army and stayed with them until early February, when Perth was taken back.

For his service during the rebellion, he was appointed the deputy-governor of Stirling Castle in March 1717. He was later made a Justice of the Peace in 1719. He was also appointed to the General Assembly again in 1725.

John Blackadder died on 31 August 1729, at the age of sixty-four. He was buried in the West Church of Stirling. A marble tablet was placed there by his great-nephew to remember him. His wife lived longer than him and later married Sir James Campbell of Ardkinglas.