Hew Dalrymple was born on 3 Dec 1750, the only son of Captain John Dalrymple of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, and great grandson of the first Viscount of Stair. He is best known for his mishandling of Junot’s defeated French army in the Peninsula War. He signed the truce at the infamous Convention of Cintra in 1808, allowing the French to sail home on English ships with all their weapons and booty. He faced an inquiry in England after this and did not hold high command again. Sir John Moore stated that Dalrymple was inexperienced and unable to work with the commanders of different departments, causing the men to suffer. He was nicknamed ‘Dowager’ by the army. The painting is by John Jackson.
1750 Born on 3 Dec
1763 Ensign in 31st Foot
1766 Lieutenant
1767 Studied at Edinburgh University
1768 Captain
1779 Knighted
1781 Lieutenant-colonel of 68th (Durham) Regiment
1783 Married to Frances Leighton
1793 Flanders campaign. Commanded grenadiers
1794 Major-General, 3 Oct
1796 Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey
1797 Colonel of 81st Regiment, 8 Aug (until 17 Jan 1798)
1798 Colonel of 37th Regiment, 18 Jan (until 24 Jun 1810)
1801 Lieutenant-General, 1 Jan
1802 GOC Northern District (until 1806)
1806 Acting Governor of Gibraltar, Nov
1808 Commanded Portuguese Expedition
1808 Convention of Cintra
1810 Colonel of Green Howards, 25 Jun (until 26 Apr 1811)
1811 Colonel of 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment, 27 Apr (until his death)
1812 General
1818 Governor of Blackness Castle
1830 Died on 9 April
