ABERCROMBY, Sin RAinnt, K. B. was the son of George Abercromby of Tullibody, Esq. in the county of Clackmannan. He was born in 1738, and was of five sons, all of whom rose to situations of eminence in different departments of the service of the state. He entered into the army as cornet of the 3d Dragoon Guards, in 1756 ; and, ascending through the inter mediate gradations of rank, he was appointed, in 1781, colonel of the 103d, or King's Irish infantry. This new-raised regiment was reduced at the peace in 1783, when colonel Abe cc row by was placed on leill-pay. In 1787, he was removed to the command of the 7th regi ment of dragoons. He acquired, during the long period of his military service, great knowledge and ex perience in his profession, having served in the Seven Years' War, and in the war with America and its allies.
But the chief services IA hich he rendered to his coun try were those occasioned by the great contest into which Great Britain entered with France, soon after the French Revolution. lle was promoted to the rank of major-general, and soon after to that of lieutenant general ; and, in the two campaigns on the Continent, in which the British troops were commanded by the duke of York, he gave many proofs of his skill, vigi lance, and intrepidity. In the action on the heights of Cateau he commanded the advanced guard, and was wounded at Nimeguen in the October following (1794.) It has been sometimes remarked, that the talents, as well as the temper, of a commander are put to as severe a test in conducting a retreat, as in achieving a victo ry. The truth of this lieutenant-general Abercrom by experienced, when he was called upon to perform the painful but important duty, of conducting a part of the retreating army out of Holland, in the winter of 1794-5. The guards, and all the sick, were on this occasion committed to his care ; and in the disastrous march from Devanter to Oldensal, he sustained the severest hardships, and experienced the most painful feelings, which had ever perhaps fallen to his lot. Harassed by a victorious enemy on his rear, obliged to conduct his troops with a rapidity beton(' their strength, through bad roads, in the most inclement part of a winter uncommonly severe, and finding it alike difficult to procure food and shelter for his sol diers, the anguish he felt in seeing their numbers daily diminish by cold and fatigue, admits of no adequate description. His gallant spirit was ready to sink be nei.th the cares which oppressed him, before his arrival at the place of destination. Ile accomplished his object
however, as well as human judgment, united with huma nity, could accomplish it, about the end of January 1795.
In the autumn of the same year, he was appointed to succeed sir Charles Grey as commander in chief of the British forces in the West Indies. Previous to his ar rival, the French had made considerable exertions to recover from their losses in that quarter ; and, besides recapturing several of their islands, they seized, to an immense amount, the property of the rich emigrants, who had lied thither from France. General Abercrom by repaired to Southampton, to take the command it" the troops destined for the West Indies. The tion was unfortunately prevented front sailing till alter the equinox, and several transports were lost in endea owing to clear the Channel. Every possible exer tion was however made, and the general, with his troops, at length arrived at the place of destination.
Ilaying arranged his plans, he waited the proper season for their execution ; ancl, on Alarch 24, 1796, a detachment of his army suddenly attacked and obtain ed possession of the island of Grenada. lie soon after became master of the Dutch settlements of Demerara and Essequibo, in South America. Towards the end of April, the admiral had the necessary ships in readi ness for• conveying the troops designed for an attack on the island of St Lucia. Here the enemy had a num ber of well-disciplined black and 1‘ bite troops, who de fended the garrison of morno Fortune it ith considera ble gallantry. After experiencing much obstruction front the exertions of the enemy, lav oured by the nature of the country, a suspension of arms took place on the 2•th of Alay, and a capitulation was entered into on the 26th, by which the Fortress was surrendered to the British, and the troops became prisoners of war. The island of St Vincent was next attacked, and yielded to the British arms about the middle of June. This short and brilliant campaign was concluded by the command er in chief in the island of Grenada, where his pre sence became necessary to quell the insurgents who had taken arms against the British, and were headed by the fierce and enterprising Fedon. After the arrival of Abercronuby, hostilities were speedily brought to a ter mination ; and on the 19th of June, full possession was obtained of every post in the island, and the haughty chief, Fedon, with his troops, were reduced to uncondi tional submission.