David Baird (soldier)
| Sir David Baird, Bt | |
|---|---|
Portrait by John Watson Gordon, c. 1825
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|
| Born |
6 December 1757 Newbyth House, East Lothian |
| Died | 18 August 1829 (aged 71) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Ireland |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
General Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet GCB (6 December 1757 – 18 August 1829) was a British military leader.
He was born at Newbyth House in Haddingtonshire, Scotland, the son of an Edinburgh merchant family, and entered the British Army in 1772. He was sent to India in 1779 with the 73rd (afterwards 71st) Highlanders, in which he was a captain. Immediately on his arrival, Baird was attached to the force commanded by Sir Hector Munro, which was sent forward to assist the detachment of Colonel Baillie, threatened by Hyder Ali. In the action which followed the whole force was destroyed, and Baird, severely wounded, fell into the hands of the Mysore chief. The prisoners remained captive for over four years. Baird's mother, on hearing that her son and other prisoners were in fetters, is said to have remarked, "God help the chiel chained to our Davie." The bullet was not extracted from Baird’s wound until his release.
He was promoted to major in 1787, visited England in 1789, and purchased a lieutenant-colonelcy in 1790, returning to India the following year. He held a brigade command in the war against Tipu Sultan, and served under Lord Cornwallis in the Seringapatam operations of 1792. He captured Pondicherry being promoted colonel in 1795. Baird served also at the Cape of Good Hope as a brigadier-general, and he returned to India as a major-general in 1798. In the last war against Tipu in 1799 Baird was appointed to the senior brigade command in the army. At the successful assault of Seringapatam, Baird led the storming party, and soon took the stronghold where he had previously been a prisoner.
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