John Abercromby (British Army officer)

Sir John Abercrombie or Abercromby, GCB ( born April 2, 1772 † February 14, 1817 ) was a British general and commander of the landing force in Mauritius during the Mauritius campaign in November 1810.

Early years

Born as the second son of General Sir Ralph Abercromby, he joined in 1786 into the 75th Highland Regiment of the British Army, which was commanded by an uncle of his. In 1787 he became a lieutenant, in 1792 captain. His father, he served as adjutant in the campaigns in Flanders (1793-1794), the Caribbean (1796-1797), Ireland ( 1798) and Holland (1799 ). In 1800 he was Colonel and fought against French troops in 1801 in Egypt.

Service after 1803

When war broke out in 1803 he was on a journey through France and was interned. In captivity, he was promoted to major general in 1805, then replaced in 1808. In 1809 he was sent as commander in chief of Bombay to India. In 1810 he came to HMS Ceylon for a few hours in French captivity, freed from Josias Rowley him with the HMS Boadicea. He commanded the troops landing in Mauritius, before he returned to Bombay in 1811. In 1812 he was commander in chief in Madras and lieutenant general. Recalled in 1813 due to illness, he returned to Britain and was admitted to the Bath Order, 1815 then elevated to Commander Grand Cross of that order. In 1817 he died in Marseilles in the hope that the Mediterranean climate could support his ailing health.