James Johnston (British Army officer, born 1721)

James Johnston (21 May 1721 – 26 November 1795) was a general of the British Army, colonel of the Royal Horse Guards (the Blues) then colonel of the Scots Greys where he succeeded his sister's husband, George Preston.

Early life
On the right is a trooper of the Royal Horse Guards
On the left is a trooper of the Scots Greys
Water colour of about 1745

Johnston was the only surviving son of James Johnston (1655–1737) and his wife, Lucy (née Claxton) Johnston.[1][note 1] His father's first wife was Catharine Poulett (a daughter of John Poulett, 2nd Baron Poulett). His sister, Lucy Johnston, was the wife of George Preston.

His father was the fourth and second surviving son of Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston, and his second wife Helen Hay (a daughter of Alexander Hay, Lord Fosterseat). His maternal grandfather was Thomas Claxton of Dublin. Among his maternal family were aunts Frances, Countess of Rosse (and, later, Viscountess Jocelyn), Mary (née Claxton) Carter.

Career

Johnston was first commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards and was present with the regiment at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743 and the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745. He became a major in the regiment on 29 November 1750, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Royal Horse Guards on 17 December 1754[2] and commanded the regiment in Germany in several engagements during the Seven Years' War.[3]

Desperately wounded at the battle of Minden in 1759[4] he was promoted to full colonel of Horse, Royal Horse Guards 9 March 1762,[5] (the same day as his 'Irish' cousin was gazetted colonel of Dragoons)[note 2] and appointed an aide-de-camp to King George III.

Promoted to major-general on 30 April 1770[6][7] on 2 May 1775 he received the additional appointment of colonel[8] of the 11th Regiment of Dragoons in place of the marquess of Lothian and was further promoted to lieutenant-general on 29 August 1777.[7][9] On 2 April 1778 he was removed from his colonelcy of Royal Horse Guards[10] and a fortnight later appointed colonel of the 6th Regiment of Dragoons.[11] In succession to George Preston, his sister's husband, he was made colonel of the Scots Greys on 4 February 1785, a post he held until his death.[3] On 25 October 1793 he was promoted general.[7][12]

Personal life

Johnston married twice. His first marriage was on 2 March 1747 to Lady Charlotte Montagu, youngest daughter of George Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax and the former Mary Lumley.[13] Charlotte's sister, Frances, was the wife of Sir Roger Burgoyne, 6th Baronet. Before her death during childbirth on 28 April 1762,[14] Charlotte and James were the parents of least three sons and three daughters, including:[15]

Johnston then married his cousin Frances (née Carter) Twysden. A daughter of Thomas Carter, Frances was the widow of Philip Twysden, Bishop of Raphoe, and the mother of Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey.

Johnston lived at Overstone, Northamptonshire and in retirement at Weston House near Bath and with a house in St James's Place, Middlesex.[16]

Note
  1. Johnston was often confused with another army officer of the same name and much the same age, James "Irish" Johnston whose father, George Johnston, was a third cousin of James, sharing descent from Archibald Johnston (died 1619) and his wife Rachel Arnot.
  2. These appointments of the two James Johnstons: Major General, Lieutenant General and General, were identical and gazetted on the same day, one man listed beside the other without distinction.* In addition on 9 March 1762 they were gazetted respectively colonel of Horse and colonel of Dragoons beside each other.

References
  1. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, ed. The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690–1715, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2006
  2. War Office "No. 9436". The London Gazette. 28 December 1754. p. 2.*
  3. Richard Cannon, Historical record of the Fourth or Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoon Guards (London, 1839) page 90
  4. Sir Bernard Burke, A visitation of the seats and arms of the noblemen and gentlemen of Great Britain, Volume 1, London, Colburn, 1852
  5. War Office "No. 10190". The London Gazette. 9 March 1762. p. 1.*
  6. War Office "No. 11039". The London Gazette. 30 April 1770. p. 1.*
  7. Robert Beatson, A political index to the histories of Great Britain and Ireland, volume II (London, 1806)page 120
  8. War Office "No. 11557". The London Gazette. 2 May 1775. p. 1.*
  9. War Office "No. 11802". The London Gazette. 6 September 1777. p. 2.*
  10. War Office "No. 11865". The London Gazette. 2 April 1778. p. 2.*
  11. War Office "No. 11865". The London Gazette. 14 April 1778. p. 1.*
  12. War Office "No. 13582". The London Gazette. 18 October 1793. p. 913.*
  13. Boswell, James (1981). Boswell, the Applause of the Jury, 1782-1785. McGraw-Hill Book Company. p. 384. ISBN 978-0-07-039114-7. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  14. Cunningham (1861). The Letters of Horace Walpole Earl of Oxford. p. 502. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  15. Charleville, Harriet Charlotte Beaujolois Campbell Bury countess of (1951). A Journey to Florence in 1817. G. Bles. p. 150. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  16. General Johnston's Estate—All Persons having any Claims or Demands on the Estate of General James Johnston, late of Weston near Bath, in the County of Somerset, and of St James's-place, in the County of Middlesex, deceased, are desired to send an account either to Mr Daniel Robinson, Gray's-inn-place, or Mr Clarke, attorney at Bath. The Times, Friday, 25 December 1795; pg. 4; Issue 3474
  • Will of James Johnston, General in His Majesty's Army of Weston near Bath, Somerset. Date 12 January 1796. Catalogue reference PROB 11/1270
  • Edward Almack. The history of the Second dragoons : Royal Scots greys.
    Lieutenant-General James Johnston.
    Colonel, 1785. Died, 26 November 1795.
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