John Cameron (1773–1844)

Sir John Cameron
Lieutenant-General Sir John Cameron, KCB
Born	3 Jan 1773 Culchenna, Inverness, Scotland
Died	23 Nov 1844 (aged 71) Guernsey, Channel Islands
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1787-1844
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Commands held	43rd Regiment of Foot Western District
Battles/wars	Invasion of Guadeloupe (1794) Peninsular War
Awards	KCB Knight of the Tower and Sword (Portugal)
Relations	Captain Ewen Cameron, 43rd Foot, killed at Battle of the Côa, 24 July 1810 (brother) General Sir Duncan Alexander Cameron GCB (1808-1888) (son) Maj.-Gen. John Cameron RE, CB, FRS (1817-1878), Director-General of the Ordnance Survey (son)

Lieutenant-General Sir John Cameron, KCB (3 January 1773 - 23 November 1844), of Culchenna, Inverness, Scotland, was a British Army officer and commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.^[1]

Military career

Cameron was commissioned as an ensign on 25 September 1787.^[2] He served in the West Indies with the 43rd Regiment of Foot, under Sir Charles Grey, and was present at the siege of Fort Bourbon, the capture of Martinique, St. Lucia and Guadaloupe, and at the assault made by the enemy of Fleur d'épée; he next served under Brigadier-General C. Graham at Berville Camp in Guadaloupe; and commanded the Regiment engaged in the action of the 30 September 1794, and in different attacks made by the enemy until 4 October 1794, when he was severely wounded and taken prisoner, in which situation he remained two years (on a prison hull at Pointe-à-Pitre).^[2]

He received the Gold Medal for his services at the Battle of Vimeiro, Battle of Corunna, Battle of Bussaco, Battle of Salamanca, Battle of Vitoria, Siege of San Sebastián and Battle of Nive. "In consideration of his eminent services, and we can honestly assert that there was not a better soldier in any army; he was nominated a Knight Commander of the Military Order of the Bath, by his Sovereign. The Portuguese Government conferred the Order of the Tower and the Sword on Sir John for the able services he rendered to that nation."^[2]

Promoted to major-general on 19 July 1821,^[3] he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in April 1822.^[4] He became Lieutenant-Governor of Plymouth and General Officer Commanding Western District on 25 September 1823.^[5] He was also appointed Colonel of the 9th Regiment of Foot on 31 May 1833^[6] and Colonel of the 93rd Regiment of Foot on 23 July 1832.^[7]

He was promoted to lieutenant-general on 10 July 1837^[8] and died at Guernsey on 23 November 1844.^[2]

Family

Camerons of Culchenna (also spelled Cuilcheanna) are descended from John, second son of Allan of the Forays, who was the XII. Chief of the Clan Cameron.^[9]

Cameron married Amelia Brock, daughter of Henry Brock, Esq., and niece of Admiral James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez on 10 October 1803, while stationed in Guernsey, Channel Islands. Amelia was a first cousin of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock. The children of Lieut.-Gen. Sir John Cameron and Amelia Brock are:

• Amelia Susannah Brock Cameron (1805–1883)
• Anne Alicia Cameron (7 Sep 1805 - 13 February 1852), who married the Rev. Henry Curtis Cherry, rector at St Mary's Parish Church in Burghfield, Berkshire and died after giving birth to her 15th issue.
• General Sir Duncan Alexander Cameron, GCB, (20 May 1808 - 8 June 1888) who fought in the Crimean War, commanded troops during part of the New Zealand Land Wars and was Governor of Royal Military College, Sandhurst from 1868 to 1875.
• Marion Mount Cameron (29 June 1813 - 8 January 1859), who married the physician Frederick Le Mesurier and had issue.
• Lieut.-General John Cameron, RE, CB, FRS (31 March 1817 - 30 June 1878), who was Director-General of the Ordnance Survey from 1875 to 1878.

References

1.  "Cameron, Sir John (1773-1844)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
2. Levinge, Sir Richard George Augustus (1868). "Historical records of the Forty-third Regiment, Monmouthshire Light Infantry: with a roll of the officers and their services from the period of embodiment to the close of 1867". Clowes. p. 301.
3. The London Gazette: no. 17727. p. 1510. 20 July 1821.
4. The London Gazette: no. 17810. p. 653. 20 April 1822.
5. The London Gazette: no. 17985. p. 2120. 20 December 1823.
6. The London Gazette: no. 19056. p. 1110. 7 June 1833.
7. The London Gazette: no. 18959. p. 1703. 24 July 1832.
8. The London Gazette: no. 19456. p. 64. 10 January 1837.
9. "Family Roots in the Cameron Clan". Retrieved 13 December 2015.