Scotch-American soldier, born in Aberdeen, Scotland; graduated as a physician from Aberdeen University, and acted as surgeon in the Young Pretender’s army in 1745. After Charles Stuart’s defeat he went to America, and settled in Pennsylvania, entering the volunteer army and being wounded at the battle of Monongahela. In recognition of his services the corporation of Philadelphia awarded him a medal. In 1775 he drilled the Virginia militia, and was made colonel of the Third Virginia Regiment and brigadier-general (1776); under Washington he led a column of attack against Trenton, and commanded the advance forces in the night attack on Princeton; his troops, mostly raw militia, abandoned him to the fury of the British soldiery, who left him for dead on the field. He died a few days later (Jan. 12, 1777), in the enemy’s hands, but attended by a special envoy sent to him by Washington under a flag of truce.
