General James Abercromby


1706 Born at Glassaugh, Banffshire
1742 Entered the army as a major
1746 Colonel
1755 18th Dec. Colonel of 50th Foot (for 5 months)
1756 Major-General
1756 13th March. Colonel of 44th Foot (for 25 years)
1757 Commanded a brigade at Louisbourg
1757 27th Dec. Colonel of 60th Foot (for 9 months)
1758 Appointed Commander-in-chief in North America
1781 Died on 23rd April

Abercromby (also spelled Abercrombie) was born to a wealthy family in Scotland. He started his military career late in life but was able to purchase commissions to allow him rapid promotion. He is best known for his inept handling of the storming of Fort Ticonderoga on 8th July 1758. He took charge of this battle after the untimely death of Brigadier-General George Augustus Howe who had a flare for the type of fighting that was required in North America. James Abercromby was appointed C-in-C in America in 1758, replacing the unpopular John Campbell (Lord Loudon). After the debacle at Ticonderoga he was, in turn, replaced by Lord Amherst who also replaced him as Colonel of the 60th Rifles. He raised the 52nd Foot, in 1755, which was later renumbered 50th, but 5 months later transferred to the 44th Foot where he was Colonel for 25 years until his death in 1781 at the age of 75.


Colonels | Regimental details


Armed Forces | Art and Culture | Articles | Biographies | Colonies | Discussion | Glossary | Home | Library | Links | Map Room | Sources and Media | Science and Technology | Search | Student Zone | Timelines | TV & Film | Wargames


by Stephen Luscombe