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 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]
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 lived at
Overstone, Northamptonshire and in retirement at Weston House near
Bath and with a house in St James's Place, Middlesex.[16]
Note
^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.
^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
^D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, ed. The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690–1715,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2006
^
abCharleville, Harriet Charlotte Beaujolois Campbell Bury countess of (1951).
A Journey to Florence in 1817. G. Bles. p. 150. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
^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.