Description: This book has three values—the BOOK, the CONDITION and the excellent SIGNATURE of Colonel Robert Abercromby (later General) who fought Washington at Yorktown. BOOK The book is the 1712 biographical French edition of George Monk, one of the key figures in English political military and naval history, and the man single-handedly responsible for the Restoration of Charles II after the Civil War and Cromwell's rule. BOOK CONDITION Binding rubbed along edges, with closed tears along joints but still in overall good condition for its age. I’m no expert, but I would say the the interior pages are in very good to great condition. Please refer to pictures to make your own assessment. THE SIGNATURE Now for the man behind the signature, Colonel Robert Abercromby of the British army (later knighted general). According to historical encyclopedias, Robert served in the French and Indian War with distinction and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1761 as a result of his gallantry at Fort Ticonderoga. Promoted to major in 1772, he became lieutenant colonel of the Thirty-seventh Foot in 1773. Not sharing his brother Ralph's doubts about the American war, he served with distinction at Long Island in August 1776 and at Brandywine and Germantown in September and October 1777, respectively. In 1778 he made an expedition to destroy shipping in the Delaware, took part in the action at Crooked Billet in May, andwas wounded at Monmouth on 28 June. He sailed south with the Charleston expedition of 1780 and stayed to serve under Cornwallis, whom he impressed. At the situation grew more dim at the battle of Yorktown on October 15, Cornwallis turned all of his guns onto the nearest allied position. He then ordered a storming party of 350 British troops under the command of Colonel Robert Abercromby to attack the allied lines and spike the American and French cannons. The allies were sleeping and unprepared. As the British charged, Abercromby reportedly shouted "Push on my brave boys, and skin the bastards!" After the Revolutionary War, from 1790-1797, Robert served as a Colonel with the 75th Foot in India where he eventually became Commander-in-Chief, successfully leading the Bombay Army during the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–92). Robert succeeded his elder brother, Ralph, as MP for County Clackmannan in 1798 and became Govenor of Edinburgh Castle in 1801. The following year, Robert was elevated to the rank of General although due to his increasingly debilitating blindness, he never saw active service again and was forced to step down from his seat in the House of Commons. He is the oldest serving General in the British Army, to date. EVIDENCE OF SIGNATURE: I have done a good bit of research on the signature to confirm that it is indeed Colonel/General Sir Robert Abercromby who, under General Cornwallis, fought against George Washington during the Revolutionary War. You can compare the signature in the book with the attached photo from online research. The additional signature from attached photos are NOT sold with the book. They only allow the buyer to confirm the signature is authentic and conforms to another known examples. You can click on this link to see more of his life, family descendants and examples of his writing style. The link below has his signature from 1778 with the classic “A” and sweeping “Y” that is also witnessed in the book signature. https://www.alamy.com/abercromby-robert-image213746659.html?imageid=8687296E-5B66-40BC-9DCC-10AE44087043&p=714955&pn=1&searchId=da5517c3dc137c09128e9aa370f72d8d&searchtype=0
Price: 360 USD
Location: Bel Air, Maryland
End Time: 2024-12-12T16:36:49.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Binding: General Monk
Signed: Yes
Personalized: No
Topic: Military
Subject: Biography & Autobiography
Year Printed: 1711