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Sir Ralph Abercromby (sometimes spelled Abercrombie) (October
7, 1734 - March 28, 1801) was a British lieutenant-general noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars.
He was the eldest son of George Abercromby of Tillibody, Clackmannanshire. Educated at Rugby and Edinburgh University, in 1754 he was sent to Leipzig to study civil law, with a view to
his proceeding to the Scottish bar. On returning from the continent he expressed a strong preference for the military profession,
and a cornet's commission was accordingly obtained for him (March 1756) in the 3rd Dragoon Guards. He served with his regiment in the Seven Years' War, and the opportunity thus afforded him of studying the methods of Frederick the Great moulded his military character and formed
his tactical ideas. He rose through the intermediate grades to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the regiment (1773) and brevet colonel in 1780, and in 1781 he became colonel of the King's Irish infantry. When that
regiment was disbanded in 1783 he retired upon half-pay.
Up to this time, he had scarcely been engaged in active service, and this was due mainly to his disapproval of the policy of
the government, and especially to his sympathies with the American colonists
in their struggles for independence. His retirement is no doubt to be ascribed to similar feelings. On leaving the army he for a
time took up political life as member of Parliament for Clackmannanshire. This, however, proved uncongenial, and, retiring in
favour of his brother, he settled at Edinburgh and devoted himself to the
education of his children.
However, when France declared war against England in 1793, he hastened to resume his
professional duties. Being esteemed one of the ablest and most intrepid officers in the whole British forces, he was appointed to
the command of a brigade under the Duke of York, for service in the
Netherlands. He commanded the advanced guard in the action at Le Cateau, and was wounded at Nijmegen. The duty fell to him of protecting the British army in its disastrous retreat out
of Holland, in the winter of 1794-1795. In 1795, he
received the honour of a knighthood of the Bath, in
acknowledgment of his services.
The same year he was appointed to succeed Sir Charles Grey, as commander-in-chief of the British forces in the West Indies. In 1796, Grenada was suddenly attacked and taken by a detachment of the army under his orders. Abercromby afterwards
obtained possession of the settlements of Demerara and Essequibo, in South America, and of the islands of
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Trinidad. He returned in 1797 to Europe, and, in reward for his important services, was appointed colonel of the regiment of
Scots Greys, entrusted with the governments of the Isle of Wight,
Fort-George and Fort-Augustus, and raised to the rank of lieutenant-general.
He held, in 1797-1798, the chief command of the forces in Ireland. There he laboured to maintain the discipline of the army, to suppress the rising rebellion, and to protect
the people from military oppression, with the care worthy of a great general and an enlightened and beneficent statesman. When he
was appointed to the command in Ireland, an invasion of that country by the French was confidently anticipated by the English
government. He used his utmost efforts to restore the discipline of an army that was utterly disorganized; and, as a first step,
he anxiously endeavoured to protect the people by re-establishing the supremacy of the civil power, and not allowing the military
to be called out, except when it was indispensably necessary for the enforcement of the law and the maintenance of order. Finding
that he received no adequate support from the head of the Irish government, and that all his efforts were opposed and thwarted by
those who presided in the councils of Ireland, he resigned the command. His departure from Ireland was deeply lamented by the
reflecting portion of the people, and was speedily followed by those disastrous results which he had anticipated, and which he so
ardently desired and had so wisely endeavoured to prevent.
After holding for a short period the office of commander-in-chief in Scotland,
Sir Ralph, when the enterprise against the Dutch Batavian
Republic was resolved upon in 1799, was again called to command under the duke of York.
The campaign of 1799 ended in disaster, but friend and foe alike confessed that the most decisive victory could not have more
conspicuously proved the talents of this distinguished officer.
His country applauded the choice when, in 1801, he was sent with an army to dispossess the French of Egypt. His experience in the Netherlands and the West Indies
particularly fitted him for this new command, as was proved by his carrying his army in health, in spirits and with the requisite
supplies, in spite of very great difficulties, to the destined scene of action. The debarkation of the troops at Abukir, in the face of strenuous opposition, is justly ranked among the most daring and
brilliant exploits of the English army. A battle in the neighbourhood of Alexandria (March 21, 1801) was the sequel of this successful
landing, and it was Abercromby's fate to fall in the moment of victory. He was struck by a spent ball, which could not be
extracted, and died seven days after the battle. His old friend and commander the Duke of York paid a just tribute to the great
soldier's memory in general orders: "His steady observance of discipline, his ever-watchful attention to the health and wants of
his troops, the persevering and unconquerable spirit which marked his military career, the splendour of his actions in the field
and the heroism of his death, are worthy the imitation of all who desire, like him, a life of heroism and a death of glory." By a
vote of the House of Commons, a monument was erected in his honour in St Paul's cathedral. His widow was created Baroness
Abercromby of Tullibody and Aboukir Bay, and a pension of L. 2000 a year was settled on her and her two successors in the
title.
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopędia Britannica.
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