George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie
The Viscount Combermere | |
---|---|
Succeeded by | Sir Edward Barnes |
Personal details | |
Born | Dalhousie Castle, Midlothian, Scotland | 23 October 1770
Died | 21 March 1838 Dalhousie Castle, Midlothian, Scotland | (aged 67)
Nationality | British |
Spouse | Christian Broun |
Children | 3 sons, including James |
Parent(s) | George Ramsay, 8th Earl of Dalhousie Elizabeth Glen |
Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
Background and education
Dalhousie was born at
Military career
After his father's death in 1787, Dalhousie joined the
During the later stages of the Peninsular War Dalhousie commanded the 7th Division under the Duke of Wellington. Wellington was sometimes critical of his performance, as during the retreat from Burgos, because of his tardy arrival at Vitoria, and for his misinformation about French intentions shortly before the Battle of Roncesvalles.[1]
With
At Vitoria he was delayed because he "had found difficulty in marching through the broken country", though Thomas Picton arrived early enough and attacked in his stead when the 7th Division failed to appear[3]
He was nevertheless voted the thanks of Parliament for his services at Vitoria where he commanded the Left Center Column, consisting of the 3rd and 7th Divisions. He was appointed lieutenant-general, and colonel of the
William Kemley was said to have saved the life of Ramsay in battle, by holding a flag over his body. In doing so he suffered a wound from a musket ball that left him with a permanent hole in the palm of his hand. His grandson, Peter Gordon Kemley, used to tell how he could put his finger through the palm of his grandfather's hand. For his actions, William Kemley was given a house on the Dalhousie Estate at Brechin Castle, rent-free for life. His daughter, Caroline Kemley, was born under a gun carriage the evening before the Battle of Quatre Bras. Her mother was one of six wives per regiment permitted to accompany their husbands.
Later career
In 1815 he was created Baron Dalhousie, of Dalhousie Castle in Midlothian, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, to allow him to sit in the House of Lords by right (until that point he had sat as a Scottish representative peer).[4]
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
According to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Ramsay sought a position in colonial administration to pay debts he incurred expanding his estate.[4] He replaced Sir John Coape Sherbrooke as Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia in 1816. He is known to have employed an official draughtsman, John Elliott Woolford, known for many surviving drawings and paintings.
Ramsay created
Governor-General of Canada
He was appointed
Commander in Chief of India
Dalhousie was appointed
Retirement
Dalhousie suffered a "fainting fit" in February 1833.[4] His health continued to deteriorate, and he returned to his estate, in 1834, where his health continued to deteriorate until his death 4 years later. He went both blind and senile in his final years.
Family
Lord Dalhousie married Christian, daughter of Charles Broun, of Colstoun in East Lothian, Scotland, a lady of gentle extraction and distinguished gifts, in 1805.[7][8] She was recognised as a "zealous botanist" by leading scientists of her day.
Ramsay and Christian had three sons, the two elder of whom died early. He died at Dalhousie Castle in March 1838, aged 67, and was succeeded by his youngest son, James, who was later created Marquess of Dalhousie. Lady Dalhousie died in January 1839.
Legacy
While serving as Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia he founded
See also
- List of universities named after people
References
- ISBN 0-02-523670-9p.113
- ^ Chandler p.203
- ^ Parkinson The Peninsular War p.179
- ^ a b c d e Burroughs, Peter (1988). "Ramsay, George, 9th Earl of Dalhousie". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. VII (1836–1850) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^
Kayla Hounsell (18 February 2018). "Dalhousie University probes founder's record on slavery and race as it marks bicentennial: Lord Dalhousie called black refugees 'slaves by habit and education'". CBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
Lord Dalhousie's feelings about black refugees went well beyond words. As Nova Scotia's governor, he called on the British government to return the refugees to the U.S. or send them to Sierra Leone. According to the Nova Scotia Archives, he dropped the idea after visiting them and discovering that 'none of them are willing to return to their masters, or to America.'
- ^
Glenn Turner (2015). The Toronto Carrying Place: Rediscovering Toronto's Most Ancient Trail. ISBN 9781459730472.
- ^
Catherine Horwood (2012). Women and Their Gardens: A History from the Elizabethan Era to Today. ISBN 9781613743409.
While they were there, between 1823 [sic] and 1828 [sic], the countess did some serious plant collecting in and around Simla, and on their final return to Britain she presented her complete Indian herbarium of some 1,200 specimens to the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. This gesture resulted in William Hooker dedicating a volume of Curtis's Botanical Magazine to her, and Robert Graham, Professor of Botany at Edinburgh, then named the genus Dalhousiea for her, although one feels she deserved better than this not particularly interesting leguminous plant.
- ^
Trevor H. Levere; Trevor Harvey Levere (2004). Science and the Canadian Arctic: A Century of Exploration, 1818-1918. ISBN 9780521524919.
Lady Dalhousie offered to send me everything in her power from Canada & she is a very zealous Botanist.
- City of Montreal. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Dalhousie
- Glover, Michael. The Peninsular War 1807-1814. Penguin, 1974.
- Oman, Charles. Wellington's Army, 1809-1814. Greenhill, (1913) 1993.
- The Royal Military Calendar, Or Army Service and Commission Book, ed. John Philippart. p. 248-249, Vol I of V, 3rd edition, London, 1820.
- Archives of George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie (George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie fonds, R4950) are held at Library and Archives Canada