Leonwim at 03:42, 2 May 2026

2026-05-02T03:42:28Z

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{{distinguish|text=[[James Stuart (British Army general)|James Stuart]] (1741–1815), who also served in India at that time}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= James Stuart
|birth_date =
|death_date = 2 February 1793
|birth_place=
|death_place=
|burial_place=
|image= George Romney - General James Stuart (d. 1793).jpg
|caption=Portrait by [[George Romney (painter)|George Romney]], {{circa}} 1786
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Great Britain}}
|service_years=
|rank= [[Major general]]
|branch={{army|UK}}
|commands= [[Madras Army]]
|unit=
|battles= [[Seven Years' War]]<br />[[Second Anglo-Mysore War]]
|awards=
|other_work=
}}
{{One source|date=October 2022}}
[[Major-General]] '''James Stuart''' (died 2 February 1793) was a British Army officer who served in various [[Military history of India|conflicts in India]] during the 18th century. His service in the [[East India Company]] was marked by his conflict with [[George Pigot, 1st Baron Pigot|Lord Pigot]], the governor of Madras; Stuart's arrest of the latter in 1776 resulted in his suspension as commander-in-chief, and he was not vindicated until 1780. He later fought in the [[Second Anglo-Mysore War]], but was suspended from command in 1782 by [[George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney|Lord Macartney]], an action that provoked a [[Dueling|duel]] between the two men. Stuart was a younger brother of the lawyer and politician [[Andrew Stuart (MP)|Andrew Stuart]].

==Early service==
{{further|Seven Years' War}}
Stuart was appointed captain in the [[56th Regiment of Foot]] on 1 November 1755. He first saw active service at the [[Siege of Louisbourg (1758)|siege of Louisbourg]] (present-day [[Nova Scotia]]) under [[Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst|Lord Amherst]] in 1758. On 9 May of the same year he was promoted to the rank of major, and in 1761 was present with Colonel Morgan's regiment at the [[Capture of Belle Île|reduction of Belle Île]]. During the course of the expedition he acted as quartermaster-general, and in consequence obtained the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

From Belle Île he went to the [[West Indies]], and served in the [[British expedition against Martinique (1762)|expedition against Martinique]], which was captured in February 1762, and on the death of Colonel Morgan took command of the regiment. After the conquest of Martinique his regiment was ordered to join the [[British expedition against Cuba|expedition against Havana]], where he greatly distinguished himself by his conduct in the assault of the [[Morro Castle (Havana)|castle of Morro]], the capture of which determined the success of the expedition.

==Conflict with Pigot==
In 1775 he received permission to enter the service of the [[British East India Company|East India Company]] as second in command on the [[Coromandel Coast]], with the rank of colonel. On his arrival he found serious differences existing between the council of the [[Madras Presidency]] and the governor, [[George Pigot, 1st Baron Pigot|Lord Pigot]], and on 23 August 1776 he arrested the governor at [[Chennai|Madras]], at the command of the majority of the council. On this news reaching England, Stuart was suspended by the directors from the office of commander-in-chief of the [[Madras Army]], to which he had succeeded, with the rank of brigadier-general, on the death of Sir Robert Fletcher in December 1776.

Although he repeatedly demanded a trial, he could not, despite peremptory orders from England, succeed in obtaining a [[court-martial]] until December 1780, when he was honourably acquitted, and by order of the directors received the arrears of his pay from the time of his suspension.

==Anglo-Mysore War==
{{further|Second Anglo-Mysore War}}
On 11 January 1781 he was restored to the chief command in Madras by order of the governor and council. He returned to Madras in 1781, and, under [[Eyre Coote (1726–1783)|Sir Eyre Coote]], took part in the [[battle of Porto Novo]] on 1 July, and distinguished himself by his able handling of the second line of the British force. In the [[Battle of Pollilur (1781)|Battle of Pollilur]], on 27 August, he had his leg carried away by a cannon shot. On 19 October he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and on the return of Sir Eyre Coote to [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]] he took command of the [[Madras Army|forces in Madras]]. [[George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney|Lord Macartney]], the governor, however, would not allow him that freedom of action which Eyre Coote had enjoyed, and on the death of [[Hyder Ali]] on 7 December he urged him immediately to attack the [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]] army. Stuart declared his forces were not ready, and made no active movement for two months.

==Dismissal and return home==
While [[Siege of Cuddalore|besieging Cuddalore]] he was suspended from the command by the Madras government. He was placed in strict confinement in Madras, and sent home to England. On 8 June 1786, though unable to stand without support owing to his wounds, he fought a duel with Lord Macartney in Hyde Park, and severely wounded him. On 8 February 1792 he was appointed colonel of the [[31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot|31st Foot]].

He died on 2 February 1793. His portrait, painted by [[George Romney (painter)|George Romney]], was engraved by Hodges. He married Lady Margaret Hume, daughter of [[Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont]], but had no children.

==References==
*{{DNB Cite|wstitle=Stuart, James (d.1793)}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-new | regiment}}
{{s-ttl | title=Lieutenant-Colonel of the [[97th Regiment of Foot (1760)|97th Regiment of Foot]] | years=1761–1762}}
{{s-aft | after=[[James Forrester (British Army officer)|James Forrester]] }}
{{succession box | before=[[Thomas Clarke (British Army officer)|Thomas Clarke]] | title=Colonel of the [[31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot]] | years=1792–1793 | after=[[Henry Phipps, 1st Earl of Mulgrave|The Lord Mulgrave]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, James}}
[[Category:1793 deaths]]
[[Category:British Army major generals]]
[[Category:British East India Company Army generals]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the French and Indian War]]
[[Category:British duellists]]
[[Category:East Surrey Regiment officers]]
[[Category:56th Regiment of Foot officers]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Seven Years' War]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Second Anglo-Mysore War]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]

James Stuart East India Company officer died 1793 - Revision history

Leonwim at 03:42, 2 May 2026