http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Abercromby

General Sir John Abercromby or Abercrombie GCB (2 April 1772 – 14 February 1817) served as a British soldier. The second son of Sir Ralph Abercromby, he entered the army in 1786 as an ensign in the 75th Highland Regiment, then commanded by his uncle Robert Abercromby of Airthrey. He gained promotion to lieutenant in 1787, and to captain in 1792. He subsequently served as an ADC to his father during campaigns in Flanders (1793–1794), the West Indies (1796–1797), Ireland (1798) and against the Batavian Republic (1799). His father relied heavily on his talents as a skilful officer. Promoted to colonel in 1800, he left his father's staff, but became deputy adjutant general and served under General Hutchinson in the force led by his father to Egypt (1801). His father died in battle at Alexandria; but John continued to render admirable service, for which General Hutchinson commended him.

When war broke out anew in 1803 the French detained Abercromby while travelling in France and imprisoned him at Verdun for the next five years. During his captivity he received promotion to major-general in 1805 and the appointment as colonel of the 53rd Regiment of Foot in 1807. Exchanged in 1808 for General Brenier, he became Commander-in-Chief, Bombay in 1809. From thence he led the forces that captured Mauritius in 1810, returning to Bombay in 1811. In 1812 he transferred to become Commander-in-Chief, Madras, with promotion to lieutenant-general. The Indian climate had broken his health, however, and he had to return to Britain at the end of 1813, where he received the KCB. He became GCB in 1815, and succeeded his elder brother George as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire. However, his worsening health drove him to the Continent, and he died in Marseilles in 1817.

http://www.histparl.ac.uk/volume/1790-1820/member/abercromby-sir-jo...

ABERCROMBY, Sir John (1772-1817), of Tullibody, Clackmannan.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986 Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency CLACKMANNANSHIRE

7 Aug. 1815 - 14 Feb. 1817

Family and Education

b. 2 Apr. 1772, 2nd s. of Gen. Sir Ralph Abercromby*, and bro. of Hons. Alexander Abercromby*, George Abercromby* and James Abercromby*. unm. KCB 2 Jan. 1815; GCB 7 Apr. 1815.

Offices Held

Cornet 4 Drag. 1782, ensign 1786; lt. 75 Ft. 1787, capt. 1792; maj. 94 Ft. 1794, brevet lt.-col. 1794; lt.-col. 53 Ft. 1795, col. 1807; brevet col. 1800, maj.-gen. 1805, lt.-gen. 1812.

C.-in-c. Bombay 1809-13, gov. and c.-in-c. Madras ad. int. 1813-14.

Biography

Abercromby, ‘the likest in face and manner’ to his father, was a prisoner of war in France from 1802 until he was exchanged in 1809. He followed the military traditions of his family and, like his uncle Sir Robert Abercromby, took up an Indian command. In 1810 he captured Mauritius and received the thanks of the House, 14 Jan. 1812. In 1815 he replaced his eldest brother George as Member for the county and, making no mark in the House, did not oppose government. He died at Marseilles, 14 Feb. 1817.

Letters of John Ramsey (Scottish Hist. Soc. ser 4), iii. 70, 184, 198, 200; Geo. III Corresp. iv. 3235.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820 Author: R. G. Thorne