A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY. ABE A A BE ABERCROMBY (Sit! after the late war broke out RALPH) was bon about and, in April 1793, he had the the year 1738. His father was a local rank of lieutenant-general respectable country gentleman conferred on him. He comresiding in the county of Stir-manded the advanced guard in ling; and Sir Ralph, after the the action on the heights at Causual course of education, was teau; and was wounded at Nidestined to follow the profession meguen. In the unfortunate of arms. The first commission retreat from Holland, in the he bore was as cornet in the 2d winter of 1794, the guards, as regiment of dragoon guards, well as the sick were left under into which he entered on the his care, whom he conducted in 23d of May 1756. He obtained the disastrous march from De a lieutenancy in the same regi- venter to Oldensall. In 1795, ment on the 19th of February Sir Ralph Abercromby was ap1760; and continued in this pointed commander in chief of corps till the 24th of April, the forces in the West Indies. when he obtained a company in On his arrival at the place of the 3d regiment of horse. In his destination, he, on the 24th this last regiment he rose to the of March 1796, obtained posrank of major and lieutenant- session of the island of Grenada, colonel. In November 1780, and soon after of the settlements he was included in the list of of Demerara and Essequibo, in brevet colonels, and next year South America. The islands of was made colonel of the 103d, St. Lucia and St. Vincents next or king's Irish infantry. On fell into the hands of the British. the 28th of September 1787, he The general having thus effecwas promoted to the rank of ted every thing which could be major general. Sir Ralph was undertaken against the French, employed on the continent soon directed his attention to the A ADA 2 on the 30th of May 1792; on the 14th of December >wing he was called to a seat the court of justiciary. Lord ercromby discharged the imtant offices of this station for ut three years. The last ce of duty which he performas a judge in the court of sticiary, was the northern cirit in the spring of the year 795. On that journey he felt himself a good deal indisposed, but returned to Edinburgh, retored, as he said, to his usual health, though his altered looks ind appearance strongly excited the apprehensions of his friends. These apprehensions were but too soon verified. He was attacked in summer 1795 with a breast complaint, attended with dangerous symptoms, for which, after some palliative means, to which his disorder never at all yielded, he was advised to try the milder climate of Exmouth in Devonshire. On the road to Exmouth, he was seized with still more violent symptoms than any his disorder had yet exhibited; and, though he experienced, during the space of about two months, some temporary relief, he never gained any material advantage, and the disease made progressive advances, till at last it carried him off, on the 17th day of November 1795. ADAM, a canon regular of the order of Premonstratenses, flourished in the 12th century, Spanish island of Trinidad, turned to his former command, which he took by capitulation He was soon afterwards sent in February 1797. An unsuc-with an army to dispossess the cessful attempt upon the island French of Egypt, where, after of Porto Rico, concluded his accomplishing some of the first campaign of 1797 in the West duties of a general, in conductIndies. While on this service, ing the army in health and spihe was presented to the 2d or rits, and with the requisite inNorth British dragoons; in the telligence and supplies, to the same year he was made lieute-destined scene of action, he was nant governor of the Isle of wounded in the thigh, in the Wight, and afterwards still far-battle of the 21st March 1801. ther rewarded with the more He concealed his wound, howJucrative governments of Forts ever, until the enemy were toGeorge and Augustus. On his tally routed, when he fell from return to England, he was fixed his horse through loss of blood. upon to take the chief command He was conveyed from the field of the forces in Ireland, where of battle on board of the admihe laboured to maintain the dis- ral's ship, where he died seven. cipline of the army, to suppress days after, beloved by the solthe rising rebellion, and to pro- diery, and regretted by his tect the people from military country. His remains were deoppression, with a care worthy posited under the castle of St. alike of the great general, and Elmo, in La Viletta, in the isl the enlightened and beneficent and of Malta. It is scarce nestatesman. From that station cessary to mention, that the he was called to the chief com- victory of the 21st of March mand in Scotland, where his turned the tide of affairs in Econduct gave universal satisfac-gypt, and led the way to the tion. He was again chosen to final expulsion of the French command under his Royal High-from that country. ness the duke of York, when the great enterprize against Holland was resolved upon; and by all parties it was confessed, that even victory the most de-education at the university of cisive could not have more con- Edinburgh; and, after going spicuously proved the talents of through the ordinary course of this illustrious officer, than his classes at that university, conconduct did, in very opposite sisting of the Latin and Greek circumstances. The unfortu- languages, of logic, philosophy, mate result of the expedition is the civil and Scots law, he was well known, and our hero re-admitted an advocate in the ABERCROMBY (ALEXANDER) brother of the foregoing, was born on the 15th of October 1745. He received his place on the 30th of May 1792 ; and on the 14th of December following he was called to a seat in the court of justiciary. Lord Abercromby discharged the important offices of this station for about three years. The last piece of duty which he performed as a judge in the court of cuit in the spring of the year 1795. On that journey he felt himself a good deal indisposed, but returned to Edinburgh, restored, as he said, to kis usual health, though his altered looks and appearance strongly excited the apprehensions of his friends. These apprehensions were but too soon verified. He was attacked in summer 1795 with a breast complaint, attended with dangerous symptoms, for which, after some palliative means, to which his disorder never at all yielded, he was advised to try the milder climate of Exmouth in Devonshire. On the road to Exmouth, he was seized with still more violent symptoms than any his disorder had yet exhibited; and, though he ex fear 1766. Soon after his being called to the bar, he had been appointed sheriff-depute of Stirlingshire, which he, in 1780, resigned for the less lucrative and more precarious situation of depute-advocate, on the idea of the latter office being more beneficial in its consequences, and tending to advance his employ-justiciary, was the northern cirment, from the opportunities it afforded him of appearing in public and criminal cases. Mr. Abercromby now rose with great rapidity in his profession, and was among the best employed barristers of his standing in Scotland. The laborious employments of his profession did not so entirely engross him as to preclude his indulging in the elegant amusements of polite literature. He was one of that society of gentlemen, who, in 1779, set on foot the periodical paper published at Edinburgh during that and the succeeding year, under the title of the "Mirror," and who afterwards gave to the world.nother work of a similar kind, the" Lounger," published at Edinburgh in 1785 and 1786. To these pub-perienced, during the space of lications he was a very valuable about two months, some temcontributor, being the author of porary relief, he never gained ten papers in the Mirror, and any material advantage, and the nine in the Lounger. In 1792, disease made progressive advanwhen in this high and advances, till at last it carried him off, cing situation at the bar, an of- on the 17th day of November fer was made to Mr. Abercrom- 1795. by of the appointment of judge of the court of session. That appointment accordingly took ADAM, a canon regular of the order of Premonstratenses, flourished in the 12th century |