John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes
Quick Facts
Biography
General John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes KT (1698 – 10 December 1767) was a senior British Army officer who became Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.
Military career
Born the son of the 9th Earl, Leslie was commissioned into the 9th Regiment of Dragoons in 1715. In 1717 he transferred to the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards.
He became Commanding Officer of the 21st Regiment of Foot in 1721 and inherited his father's title the following year. He became a Scottish representative peer in 1723. In 1732 he took over command of the 25th Regiment of Foot. He fought at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743 and, having transferred to the Horse Grenadier Guards, at the Battle of Rocoux in 1744. In 1751 he transferred to the military staff in Ireland and in 1758 he became Commander-in-Chief, Ireland. His home, Leslie House in the village of Leslie, was seriously damaged by fire in 1763. He died at his home in 1767.
Family
In 1741 he married Hannah Howard; they went on to have two sons and two daughters. Mary, the youngest one, married William Colyear, 3rd Earl of Portmore. In 1763, following the death of his first wife, he married Mary Lloyd.