(James Abercromby, born in Scotland in 1707, was active in...)
James Abercromby, born in Scotland in 1707, was active in American affairs for almost half a century, commencing with his appointment in 1730 as attorney general and advocate general of the Court of Vice-Admiralty for South Carolina. He represented the colony of North Carolina in London from 1749 through 1757 and served as the chief agent for Virginia from 1752 through 1775. His correspondence with other colonial agencies, government officials, and merchants on both sides of the Atlantic sheds new light on the rationale behind British imperial affairs in the critical years before the American Revolution. Although researchers have had access to the original letter book at the Virginia State Library and Archives since 1919, Abercromby's virtually illegible handwriting has prevented them from unlocking its riches. This edition, representing years of painstaking work by two talented scholars, makes this valuable historical document widely available for the first time.
https://www.amazon.com/Letter-Book-James-Abercromby-1751-1773/dp/088490170X?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=088490170X
James Abercromby was born in 1706 in Glassaugh, Banffshire, Scotland, the son of Alexander, Member of Parliament for Banffshire, and Helen Meldrum. He belonged to a good Scottish family, the Abercrombys of Glassaugh, Banffshire, a cadet branch of the Abercrombys of Birkenbog.
In his youth Abercromby followed the path blocked out for him by the career of his father, Alexander Abercromby, the previous laird of Glassaugh; he entered the army, was active in Banff affairs as commissioner of supply and justice of the peace, and was chosen member of parliament for Banff in 1734, a seat he held for twenty years.
Throughout his life he enjoyed two minor posts, as King's Painter in Scotland, and as deputy-governor of Stirling Castle.
After passing through the lower ranks of the army, he became, in 1746, lieutenant-colonel of the first battalion of the Royal Scots, with the rank of colonel. He served in the same year as quartermaster-general in St. Clair's expedition, which was first designed for an attack upon Canada, but was diverted to a descent upon Port l'Orient. There he gained the intimate friendship of David Hume. The following year he was wounded in the fierce fighting at the relief of Hulst.
His military experience and his close friendship with Loudoun led to his selection in 1756 as second in command of the British forces in America. He was given the 44th Regiment, and promoted to the rank of major-general. Reaching Albany a month before his superior, Loudoun, he acted during that brief period as commander-in-chief, but took no decisive steps towards settling the various problems confronting him. As second in command, Abercromby proved himself an obedient and trustworthy officer. Loudoun put him in charge of the troops at Albany, where he performed his work adequately, since it involved no decisions of primary importance. He incurred no one's dislike; he won no one's admiration. He was a disciplinarian of the European school, and he gave his opinion upon colonial affairs, when asked, in favor of the most rigid interpretation of the royal prerogative.
Upon Loudoun's recall, Abercromby assumed, in March 1758, the supreme command of all British forces in America, and the colonelcy-in-chief of the Royal American Regiment. With Amherst's successful expedition against Louisburg, and Forbes's slow advance towards Fort Duquesne, he had nothing to do, for both offensives were planned by Pitt in England. To him was left the assault upon Ticonderoga, where his incapacity for chief command became apparent. His own second, Lord Howe, was unfortunately killed in a preliminary skirmish, and Abercromby, unable to make a decision by himself, trusted to the recommendations of his chief engineer, young Matthew Clarke, and attempted to carry by assault the almost impregnable French position. His forces were beaten back in one of the bloodiest battles in the history of British arms. So unnecessary a defeat turned both his own army and the provincials against him, and he was recalled in the fall of 1758. The provincials named him "General Nabbycromby. "
After his return to England, the usual rules of seniority brought him, in 1759, the rank of lieutenant-general, and in 1772, that of general. He spent a great portion of his last twenty-two years at Glassaugh.
(James Abercromby, born in Scotland in 1707, was active in...)
Quotes from others about the person
"The General returns to Europe as little regretted as any man that ever left America. He had no resolution, no will of his own, was bullied into the favours he bestowed, made few friends thereby, created some enemies, and in short fell into universal contempt. "
Abercromby married Mary Duff (sister of William Duff, 1st Earl Fife) and they had one daughter.
