Field Marshal John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair KT

John was born in Stair on 2nd July 1673, the son of the 1st Earl of Stair who was infamously involved in the plot to murder the MacDonalds in the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692. He spent much of his youth in the Netherlands so he would not have been unfamiliar with the area covered during the campaigns led by the Duke of Marlborough. Dalrymple was the Duke's assistant and his fortunes followed suit when Marlborough fell foul of Queen Anne. Both men were restored on the accession of George I and Dalrymple was sent as envoy to Paris. He became the 2nd Earl of Stair in 1707 and was appointed Colonel of 3 regiments:
Cameronians 1st Jan 1706 - 23rd Aug 1706
2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) 24th Aug 1706 - 20th April 1714 and 28th May 1745 - 27th May 1747
6th Dragoons 4th Mar 1715 - 18th June 1734 and 25th April 1743 - 28th May 1745.
In 1743 he led the Pragmatic Army at the Battle of Dettingen where he was humiliated by King George II who arbitrarily took over command. In the last years of his life he was Commander-in-Chief of the Army, from 1744-46 and he died on 9th May 1747.

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