General Sir David Dundas GCB

David Dundas came from a genteel but impoverished Scottish family in Edinburgh. He served in many campaigns and reached the heights as Commander in Chief of the Forces in 1809. He was an advocate of officer training but disliked the trend towards light infantry. He was a great admirer of Frederick the Great and earned the nick-name Old Pivot for his preference for Prussian style drill. In later life he was very much the 'Old Man' with his stoop and skeletal appearance, causing the young officers to regard him as a figure of fun. 1735 Born in Scotland 1755 Commissioned into the RA 1756 transferred to 56th Foot as lieutenant 1760 Battle of Warburg 1762 Cuba 1778 QMG in Ireland, until 1789 1790 Major General 1791 Colonel of 22nd Foot, until 1795 1793 Second in command at Battle of Toulon 1794 Commanded at Invasion of Corsica 1794 Flanders campaign 1795 Colonel of 7th Light Dragoons, until 1801 1796 QMG, until 1803 1797 Lieut-General 1799 Commanded 3rd Division at the Helder 1801 Colonel of Scots Greys, until 1813 1802 General 1803 Command of Kent and Sussex 1804 GCB 1804 Governor of Royal Hospital, Chelsea, until his death 1805 Semi retirement 1807 Chaired the hearing against Le Marchant 1809 Colonel-in-Chief of Rifle Brigade, until his death 1809 Colonel-in-Chief of the Forces 1813 Colonel of 1st Kings Dragoon Guards, until his death 1820 Died in Chelsea on 18th Feb.

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