John Douglas famously commanded the 79th in the Crimea and was Colonel of the regiment for eight years in the 1880s. He was from Glenfinart, Argyleshire, born on 7 July 1817, the son of Sir Neil Douglas who commanded the 79th in the Peninsula War. John joined the regiment as an ensign on 6 Sep 1833, promoted to lieutenant on 18 July 1836, captain on 8 June 1841, and major on 24 Dec 1852. He served throughout the Crimean War, being promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 13 Aug 1854, commanding the regiment at the battle of the Alma and at Balaclava, the siege of Sevastopol, taking part in the assault of 18 June 1855, and the expeditions to Kertch and Yenikale.
He had a long and very active period of command during the Indian Mutiny. He was promoted to full colonel on 1 Aug 1857 and given command of the infantry at Secundra. At Lucknow he commanded a brigade, taking the Residency, Iron Bridge, Great Imambara and several other important positions. Afterwards he was in command of the infantry in the Azimghur Field Force, in charge at Tigra, the taking of Azimghur, the pursuit of Koer Singh, actions at Azimghur, Munnear, Sheoporeghat, and various operations around Jugdespore and the jungles, and the pursuit of Buxar.
On 15 June 1858 he was appointed commander of troops in the Azimghur and Jaunpore districts, and on 25 June, to the command of the disturbed districts of Behar, Dinapore, Ghazepore and Shahabad. During the summer of 1858 he was constantly engaged in pursuing rebels in the heat and in the wet weather of the monsoon. At the end of the wet season he took the field and defeated the rebels at Karisath, driving them into the jungle. At Judgespore he pursued and drove the rebels into the Kymore Hills, killing 1,200. A campaign in the Kymore Hills followed and he led a successful night attack at Salya Duhar.
On 15 Jan 1859 Colonel Douglas was appointed to the command of the troops at Palamow and Chota Nagpore. He then set about pursuing rebels in Palamow for which he was frequently mentioned in despatches and thanked by the Governor-General of India. He was appointed KCB. Back in the UK he was appointed GOC North British District in 1873 but retired in 1875. He was promoted to major-general on 23 Aug 1877 and appointed Colonel of the 79th on 1 Jan 1879. He reached the rank of General on 30 Jan 1880.
He was married to Lady Elizabeth Cathcart, daughter of Charles Murray Cathcart, 2nd Earl of Cathcart. They had two surviving sons, Neil Douglas Cecil Frederick Douglas (b.1844) and Charles John Cathcart Douglas (b.1857 d.1926). Sir John was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Scotland and was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB). He died on 8 September 1888 and was buried in the graveyard of St Munn’s Church, Kilmun.
