General James Abercromby (1706-1781) was baptized 15 October 1706 at Fordyce Parish, Banffshire, Scotland, eldest son of Captain Alexander Abercromby (1677-1729) of Glassaugh and Helen Meldrum. Although Glassaugh is in Banffshire, Scotland, a copy of his father’s will is found among Irish Prerogative wills.

By 27 August 1717 James was a Lieutenant in the army and a Captain on 18 June 1736; Major on 22 June 1742 and Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Royal regiment of foot on 1 July 1742.

In June 1745 he served at Ghent, Flanders and in 1746 in the Flemish campaign of the War of Austrian Succession. He was promoted to Colonel on 16 April 1746, and in September and October of that year served with General James St. Clair on an expedition that attacked the coast of Brittany at Port L’Orient. His distant cousin, James Abercromby (1708-1775), former attorney general of South Carolina, served as judge advocate on this expedition.

In 1754 he resigned his seat in Parliament for Banffshire, Scotland, which he had held since before 1740, being helped in his re-election campaign of 1740 by his distant cousin, James Abercromby (1713-?), youngest son of Sir James Abercromby (1668-1734), 2nd baronet of Birkenbog.

On 24 December 1755 he was named Colonel to the 52nd foot, and on 29 December 1755 his eldest son, Alexander Abercromby (1736-1756), was named Captain of the 52nd foot, and his second son, William Abercromby (1739-?) was Quarter Master of the 52nd foot.

On 31 January 1756 he was promoted to Major General and on 13 March 1756 was named colonel of the 44th foot.

His son Alexander died 6 May 1756 as a Captain in his father’s regiment.

Soon after, by June 1756, General Abercromby arrived in America where he was second in command to General Lord Loudoun [John Campbell (1705-1782), fourth earl of Loudoun].

On 27 December 1757 he was promoted to Colonel in Chief of the 60th foot, and he held the chief command of British forces in North America after Lord Loudoun was recalled.

In July 1758 General Abercromby was defeated by a smaller French force at Ticonderoga, after which, in September 1759, Pitt recalled him giving command to General Amherst.

In early 1759 General Abercromby sailed for England and on 31 March 1759 was promoted to Lieutenant General. He later served as deputy governor of Stirling Castle.

He married Mary Duff of Dipple on 30 November 1731 at Fordyce Parish, Banffshire, Scotland, and they had eight children: Alexander (1736-1756), William (1739-?) who in 1767 married his distant cousin, Mary Abercromby, daughter of Sir Robert Abercromby (1705-1787), 3rd baronet of Birkenbog; James (1740-1800) who became a colonel in the army; Rev. Thomas St. Clair; Jean (1733-?) who married twice and succeeded to Glassaugh after her brothers died childless; Helen (1734-?); Mary (1735-1761); and Margaret Keith (1754-?).

He made his will at Glassaugh on 28 April 1781, naming as executors: his wife Mary Duff Abercromby; two of his sons, Major James Abercromby and Thomas St. Clair Abercromby; Thomas James; John Watson; John Paterson; Rev. Alexander Angus; and James Watson. It was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, London on 15 November 1782.