Moore, Lt Gen Sir John (1761-1809). Born into a prominent Glaswegian family, after spending much of his childhood at school in Geneva and in touring Germany, France, and Italy, in 1776 Moore obtained an ensigncy in the 51st Foot, serving with it in Minorca. Appointed lieutenant in the 82nd, he then saw action in the American independence war. Thereafter Moore, a Pittite, was returned as MP for the Peebles group of boroughs, a position he retained until 1790.
In the interim, his military career developed apace. He became lieutenant colonel of the 51st, with which he subsequently saw extensive service in the Mediterranean. Thereafter, he commanded brigades in the West Indies and in Ireland before participating in the Helder and French Egyptian expeditions.
In 1803, he took command of a brigade based at Shorncliffe, the linchpin of south-east England's defences, where he and like-minded officers notably Col (later Lt Gen Sir) Kenneth Mackenzie trained Britain's first permanent light infantry regiments (see light troops). Knighted and made lieutenant general, Moore was then posted to Sicily before leading an abortive expedition to Sweden. Thereafter he was sent to Spain and made a bold thrust into the heart of the peninsula in support of local resistance. Confronted by Napoleon in person he retreated to Corunna, where he was mortally wounded covering the evacuation.
— David Gates
