Lieutenant Colonel John Dalrymple

By Stephen Johnson updated April 21st 2013

John Dalrymple was born on 11th November 1778 at the family home in Advocate's Close, Edinburgh to David Dalrymple, a Senator of the Courts of Justice and his mother Jean Aberdein. His mother Jean died in 1780 and his father David Dalrymple died in 1784. His sister Jean Dalrymple married in 1783 John Anderson. John now an orphan was looked after by his extended family.

Letters I uncovered at the National Archives show that John was being looked after by his cousin Earl Stair and his uncle, a British Army General who acted with other family members as references to his application to join the army as a junior officer at 16. The letters made refererence to the crisis John's family was in fact following the death of both his parents.

At the age of 16 his family wrote letters to Lord Jeffrey Amherst, the Army Commander in Chief seeking a commission for John Dalrymple. Letters held at the National Archives (W.O. 31/15) from John's family mention the "crisis" that clearly affected his family when his father died. One letter mentioned that he was living with his cousin Lord Stair in London. Another letter mentioned his uncle being a general. This was his father's brother General Robert Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone (see below for a transcript)

John Dalrymple enlisted as an Ensign in the 13th Foot Regiment before becoming a Lieutenant in the 80th Foot Regiment. He became a Captain in 1803 and a Major in 1814. He switched to the 30th Foot Regiment and served in Egypt and later returned to India. He purchased a promotion to Lieutentant-Colonel in 1827.

Lieutenant-Colonel John Dalrymple of H.M. 30 th Foot Regiment of the British Army died on 9th January 1829 at Wallajahbad where he was buried at the British military cemetary.

His will is held at the India Office Records at the British Library. The will mentioned his wayward son Joe Dalrymple, my great great great grandfather. John expressed his stern disapproval of his rude behaviour towards his mother as well his "choice" of women. John took steps to prevent Joe inheriting much of his estate - a total of 180,000 rupees at 1829 exchange rates. After his father's death, Joe Dalrymple lost contact with the family in Scotland and also declined to provide Burke's Peerage with any further family records - Burke's was dependent on noble families providing them with up to date records for future editions.

John Dalrymple is listed with his parents and siblings in 'The Scots Peerage' which was a collection of volumes published 1904 to 1914 all about Scotland's noble families. Source: The Scots Peerage Volume 8 page 136 – Sir James Balfour 1911 edition

Transcript of letter dated January 7th 1793

From Lieutenant-General Robert Horn Elphinstone (Dalrymple) to Lord Jeffery Amhurst , Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Forces in support of his nephew John Dalrymple’s application for an Army Commission. It mentioned Mr Aberdeen - John's uncle on his mother's side.

Edinburgh January 7th 1793

Lieut General Horn’s most respectful compliments to Lord Amhurst.

We yesterday had the honor of his Lordship’s letter enclosing one from Mr. Aberdeen. My nephew the young gentleman mentioned by Mr.Aberdeen is under the care of his cousin Lord Stair who has placed him in H.M. Army in or near London. His Lordship promised to recommend him for a Commission in the Army when of a proper age and I find Mr. Aberdeen’s account very correct – the young man is now sixteen years of age.

I have the honor to be My Lord Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant

Robert Horn Elphinstone

Please note that the India Office records staff at the British Library agreed to my request John Dalrymple to be recognised in the I.O.R. Biographical File series. The transcript of his will is to be found on the shelf. His details have also been included online on the India Office Family History Search - biographical details.

http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/

I have added a picture of an officer in H.M.30th Foot Regiment from about 1808 - John transferred to this regiment from H.M.80th Foot several years later