Maj.-Gen. James Kemmis of Kilmainham

http://www.kemmisfamily.info/TheKemmisBook/kemmis08.html

James, born 1st January 1751; of Kilmainham aforesaid, his interest in which he sold to his brother Thomas for £370 and an annuity of £50, 15th February 1775: purchased an Ensignacy in H.M. 9th Regiment of Foot, with a portion of the legacy left him by his father, 1775: embarked for Quebec, 1776; taken prisoner by the rebel colonists, 1777, but exchanged together with several other officers of the 9th in 1781; purchased his Lieutenancy 1778; purchased his Captaincy in 9th Regiment 1784, with the remainder of his legacy and with part of the sum paid him by his brother Thomas as annuity out of Kilmainham; placed upon half pay and residing in Dublin 1790, serving in the war with Holland in 1793, where he obtained promotion to rank of Major; on the recruiting service at Bristol 1795; returned from active service in Jamaica in 1799 as Lieut. Colonel of 2nd battalion 40th Foot, having received public thanks for his conduct at San Domingo; the same year again on active service in Holland; served in the Mediterranean 1800, and whilst at Malta had his portrait painted by an Italian artist, Gatano de Calleja (75); returned to England 1803 and in 1804 on half pay at Hastings; served in Ireland 1807; Colonel of H.M. 40th Regiment of Foot (76); mentioned in Lord Wellesley's dispatches from Vimera of 21st August 1808 (77); promoted to Brigadier General (78); mentioned in dispatches 10th May 1811 as leading the British Brigade which repulsed an attack on the batteries before Fort Christoval, Badajos: promoted Major General 4th June 1811; in Ireland at Boyle 1812-1814, at Tullamore on the Staff 1814-1818. Obtained a medal with one clasp for "Roliga and Vimiera, Talavera" (79); obiit 2nd April 1820 s.p. at Cheltenham, and buried there in St. Mary's churchyard; M.I. upon a flat tombstone over a vault in the churchyard; Will dated 7th January 1815, codicil 30th March 1820 and proved in London, 29th April following. Married...... d. of ...... "a gentleman received in the best society he had met in England and who was known and respected in Hastings;" she died at Southampton 1810, while her husband was in Portugal (80).