The Earl of Stair | |
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John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair
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Born | 20 July 1673 Edinburgh, Scotland |
Died | 9 May 1747 (aged 73) Edinburgh, Scotland |
Allegiance |
Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of Great Britain |
Service/branch |
Royal Scots Army British Army |
Rank | Field Marshal |
Battles/wars |
Nine Years' War |
Awards | Knight of the Thistle |
Nine Years' War
War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
Field Marshal John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair KT PC (20 July 1673 – 9 May 1747) was a Scottish soldier and diplomat. He served in the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession and, after a period as British Ambassador in Paris, became a military commander at the Battle of Dettingen during the War of the Austrian Succession.
Born the son of John Dalrymple, 2nd Viscount Stair (and later 1st Earl of Stair) and Elizabeth Dalrymple (née Dundas), Dalrymple accidentally killed his brother in a shooting accident in April 1682 and thereafter spent most of his early life in the Netherlands where he studied at Leiden University. He joined up as a volunteer for the Nine Years' War with the Earl of Angus's Regiment and fought at the Battle of Steenkerque in August 1692. At Steenkerque he rallied his regiment several times when the ranks had been broken by cannon fire. In 1695 he became Master of Stair when his father succeeded to the Viscountcy of Stair.
He was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the 3rd Foot Guards on 12 May 1702 and fought with the Duke of Marlborough during the War of the Spanish Succession at the Battle of Peer in August 1702 and the Battle of Venlo in September 1702. At Venlo he also saved the life of the Prince of Hesse-Kassel.