John Douglas (British Army officer) explained

Sir John Douglas
Birth Date:7 July 1817[1]
Death Place:Glenfinart House, Argyllshire
Death Date:[2]
Allegiance: United Kingdom
Rank:General
Commands:Commander-in-Chief, Scotland
Battles:Crimean War
Indian Mutiny
Awards:Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

General Sir John Douglas of Glenfinart (7 July 1817 – 8 September 1888) was a British Army officer who became Commander-in-Chief, Scotland.

Military career

Born the son of Lieutenant General Sir Neil Douglas, Douglas was commissioned in 1833.[3] He commanded the 79th Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Alma in September 1854, at the Battle of Balaclava in October 1854 and at the Siege of Sebastopol in Winter 1854 during the Crimean War.[3] He also took part in the response to the Indian Mutiny.[3]

He went on to command the troops in the North British District from in 1873 before retiring in 1875.[4] He was given the colonelcy of The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders from 1879 to 1887 and promoted full general on 30 January 1880.

He married Lady Elizabeth Cathcart, eldest daughter of the 2nd Earl of Cathcart.[5] They had two surviving sons, born 13 years apart: Neil Douglas Cecil Frederick Douglas (born 1844) and Charles John Cathcart Douglas (born 1857).[6] [1]

He died in 1888 and was buried in the graveyard of St Munn's Parish Church, Kilmun.[7] A memorial also exists on the central vault in Dalry Cemetery in west Edinburgh.[8] He was the cousin of Sir James Douglas, 1st Governor of British Columbia.[9]

References

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Foster . Joseph . The peerage, baronetage, and knightage of the British Empire . 1883 . Nichols and Sons . Westminster [London, Eng.] . 710 . 18 June 2019.
  2. Book: Annual Register . 1888 . J. Dodsley. . 150 . 18 June 2019 . en.
  3. Web site: Historical records of the 79th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. 1887. 29 November 2014.
  4. Web site: The 79th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders 1873 – 1886. 29 November 2014.
  5. https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G005062.pdf Chronicles of the Plumsted Family
  6. Book: Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood. Burke's Peerage & Gentry . Mosley, Charles . Charles Mosley (genealogist) . 107 . 2003 . 719 . Burke . 0-9711966-2-1.
  7. Web site: Kilmun, St Munn's Parish Church (church of Scotland) Including Argyll and Douglas Mausolea, Associat, Kilmun. British listed buildings. 9 April 2015.
  8. Web site: Residents. Dalry Cemetery . 19 March 2023.
  9. https://hcmc.uvic.ca/confederation/pdfs/british-columbia-national.pdf Handout: Sir James Douglas