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{{Short description|British army officer}}
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{{Infobox person
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
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{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sir James Duff
| name = Sir James Duff
| image =James Duff (1752–1839).png
| image =James Duff (1752–1839).png
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
| office = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Banffshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Banffshire]]
| term_start = 1784
| term_end = 1789
| predecessor = [[James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife|Sir James Duff]]
| successor = [[James Ferguson (Scottish politician)|James Ferguson]]
| birth_date = 1752
| birth_date = 1752
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
| death_date = 1839
| death_date = 1839
| death_place =
| death_place =
| nationality = Scottish/British
| nationality = British
| other_names =
| other_names =
| known_for =
| known_for =
| occupation =
| occupation =
}}
}}
[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] '''Sir James Duff''' (1752–1839) was a British army officer, who fought in the Napoleonic wars {{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}} and [[Banffshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Member of Parliament]] (1784–1789).{{sfn|Stephens|Wood|2008}}
[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] '''Sir James Duff''' (1752–1839) was a British army officer, who fought in the Napoleonic wars {{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}} and [[Banffshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Member of Parliament]] (1784–1789).{{sfn|Stephens|2008}}


==Life==
==Life==
Duff was the eldest illegitimate son of [[James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife]] (1729–1809), and Margaret Adam, of Keith. As his mother was of humble status, her three children with Fife were placed in the guardianship of William Rose Fife's factor. Fife liked Duff and took good care of him, sending him to Keith Academy and at King's College, Aberdeen, where he graduated MA in 1771, and after he entered the army paid for Duff's promotions.{{sfn|Stephens|Wood|2008}}
Duff was the eldest illegitimate son of [[James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife]] (1729–1809), and Margaret Adam, of Keith. As his mother was of humble status, her three children with Fife were placed in the guardianship of William Rose, Fife's factor. Fife liked Duff and took good care of him, sending him to [[Keith Academy]] and at [[King's College, Aberdeen]], where he graduated MA in 1771, and after he entered the army paid for Duff's promotions.{{sfn|Stephens|2008}}


Duff entered the army as an ensign in the [[Grenadier Guards|1st Foot Guards]] on 18 April 1769. He was promoted lieutenant and captain on 26 April 1775, and made adjutant of his battalion in 1777, and on 30 April 1779 he was knighted as proxy for the celebrated diplomatist Sir [[James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury|James Harris]], afterwards 1st Earl of Malmesbury (and a close friend of his father), at his installation as a [[knight of the Bath]]. James Duff was promoted captain and lieutenant-colonel, on 18 July 1780, colonel on 18 November 1790. His regiment was part of the expeditionary force sent to [[Flanders Campaign|Flanders to campaign]] against the French as part of the [[First Coalition]] (the British contingent under the command of [[Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany|Prince Frederick, Duke of York]]). He fought at the [[Battle of Famars|Battle of Valenciennes]] commanding the guards' light infantry battalion in 1794. On 30 October he was promoted to major-general.{{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}}{{sfn|Stephens|Wood|2008}}
Duff entered the army as an ensign in the [[Grenadier Guards|1st Foot Guards]] on 18 April 1769. He was promoted lieutenant and captain on 26 April 1775, and made adjutant of his battalion in 1777, and on 30 April 1779 he was knighted as proxy for the celebrated diplomat Sir [[James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury|James Harris]], afterwards 1st Earl of Malmesbury (and a close friend of his father), at his installation as a [[knight of the Bath]]. James Duff was promoted captain and lieutenant-colonel, on 18 July 1780, colonel on 18 November 1790. His regiment was part of the expeditionary force sent to [[Low Countries theatre of the War of the First Coalition|Flanders to campaign]] against the French as part of the [[First Coalition]] (the British contingent under the command of [[Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany|Prince Frederick, Duke of York]]). He fought at the [[Battle of Famars|Battle of Valenciennes]] commanding the guards' light infantry battalion in 1794. On 30 October he was promoted to major-general.{{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}}{{sfn|Stephens|2008}}


In 1797, Duff received the command of the [[Limerick]] district. While there he rendered important services during the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]], and managed to keep his district quiet in spite of the state of affairs elsewhere. His name is associated with the [[Gibbet Rath executions]]. He was elected M.P. for [[Banffshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Banffshire]] (1784–9), and colonel of the 50th foot from 1798 to death.{{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}}
In 1797, Duff received the command of the [[Limerick]] district. While there he rendered important services during the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]], and managed to keep his district quiet in spite of the state of affairs elsewhere. His name is associated with the [[Gibbet Rath executions]] where men under his command massacred several hundred people, who had previously received amnesty. He was elected M.P. for [[Banffshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Banffshire]] (1784–9), and colonel of the [[50th Regiment of Foot]] from 1798 to death.{{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}}


Duff was promoted lieutenant-general on 1 January 1801, and general on 25 October 1809, and at the time of his death, at [[Funtington]], near Chichester, on 5 December 1839, he was the most senior general in the British army, and was one of the few officers who held a commission for over seventy years.{{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}}
Duff was promoted lieutenant-general on 1 January 1801, and general on 25 October 1809, and at the time of his death, at [[Funtington]], near Chichester, on 5 December 1839, he was the most senior general in the British army, and was one of the few officers who held a commission for over seventy years.{{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}}
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He had as aides-de-camp during his Limerick command two famous officers, [[William Francis Patrick Napier|William Napier]] and [[James Douglas (British Army officer)|James Dawes Douglas]]. There are numerous allusions to him in the ''Life of Sir William Napier''.{{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}}
He had as aides-de-camp during his Limerick command two famous officers, [[William Francis Patrick Napier|William Napier]] and [[James Douglas (British Army officer)|James Dawes Douglas]]. There are numerous allusions to him in the ''Life of Sir William Napier''.{{sfn|Stephens|1888|p=129}}


According to the ''[[Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership|Legacies of British Slave-Ownership]]'' at the [[University College London]], Duff was awarded a compensation payment as a slave owner in the aftermath of the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833]] and the [[Slave Compensation Act 1837]]. The British Government took out a £15 million loan (worth £{{formatprice|{{inflation|UK|15,000,000|1833}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}) with interest from [[Nathan Mayer Rothschild]] and [[Moses Montefiore]] which was subsequently paid off by the British taxpayers (ending in 2015). Duff was associated with "Jamaica Hanover 455 (Grange Sugar Estate)", he owned 202 slaves in [[Jamaica]] and received a £4,101 payment at the time (worth £{{formatprice|{{inflation|UK|4,101|1833}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}).<ref>{{cite web |title=General Sir James Duff|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/19162|publisher=[[University College London]]}} Retrieved 20 March 2019.</ref> This is recorded by the Slave Compensation Commission and the records held at the [[National Archives (United Kingdom)|National Archives]] at [[Kew]], London.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/8659 |title=Rear Admiral Sir Charles Adam |publisher=[[University College London]] |access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/alf-young-time-face-bloody-history-uk-1572185|title=Alf Young: Time to face up to bloody history of UK|website=www.scotsman.com}}</ref>
Duff benefited from the compensation paid out following the abolition of slavery in 1833. He received a payment of £4,101,0s,1d, an approximate £347,000 in 2015, made by the government of United Kingdom as recorded by the Slave Compensation Commission and the records held at the National Archives in London.<ref>https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/8659</ref><ref>http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search/search_results.aspx?Page=1&QueryText=slave+compensation</ref>


==Family==
==Family==
On 12 August 1785 Duff married Basilia (d. 1849), daughter and heir of James Dawes of Rockspring, Jamaica, through whom he gained control of a considerable fortune. They had one son and three daughters.{{sfn|Stephens|Wood|2008}}
On 12 August 1785, Duff married Basilia (d. 1849), daughter and heir of James Dawes, of Rockspring, Jamaica, through whom he gained control of a considerable fortune. They had one son and three daughters.{{sfn|Stephens|2008}}


==Notes==
==Notes==
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==References==
==References==
*{{cite encyclopedia|ref=harv |first=H. M. |last=Stephens |title=Duff, Sir James (1753–1839) |first2=Stephen (reviewer) |last2=Wood |encyclopedia=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |publisher=Oxford University Press |origyear=2004 |edition=online edn |date=May 2008 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/8169}}
*{{cite encyclopedia|first=H. M. |last=Stephens |title=Duff, Sir James (1753–1839) |editor-first=Stephen |editor-last=Wood |encyclopedia=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |publisher=Oxford University Press |orig-year=2004 |edition=online |date=May 2008 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/8169}}
*{{DNB|first=Henry Morse |last=Stephens |wstitle=Duff, James (1752-1839) |volume=16 |pages=129 }}; Endnotes:
*{{DNB|first=Henry Morse |last=Stephens |wstitle=Duff, James (1752-1839) |volume=16 |pages=129 }}; Endnotes:
*Royal Military Calendar
*Royal Military Calendar
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{{s-ttl
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Banffshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Banffshire]]
| title = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Banffshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Banffshire]]
| years = [[British general election, 1784|1784]] – 1789
| years = [[1784 British general election|1784]]–1789
}}
}}
{{s-aft | after = [[James Ferguson (Scottish politician)|James Ferguson]]}}
{{s-aft | after = [[James Ferguson (Scottish politician)|James Ferguson]]}}
|-
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Sir [[Thomas Spencer William]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Colonel of the [[50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot|50th Regiment of Foot]] | years=1778–1839}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sir George Walker, 1st Baronet]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{Authority control}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2011}}
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{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}


{{Persondata
|name=Duff, Sir James
|alternative names=
|short description=general
|date of birth= 1752
|place of birth=
|date of death= 1839
|place of death=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duff, Sir James}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duff, Sir James}}
[[Category:1752 births]]
[[Category:1752 births]]
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[[Category:British Army personnel of the Napoleonic Wars]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Napoleonic Wars]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Scottish constituencies]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Scottish constituencies]]
[[Category:Scottish slave owners]]
[[Category:Recipients of payments from the Slavery Abolition Act 1833]]
[[Category:People from Funtington]]
[[Category:British Army generals]]

Latest revision as of 07:24, 29 May 2024

Sir James Duff
Member of Parliament
for Banffshire
In office
1784–1789
Preceded bySir James Duff
Succeeded byJames Ferguson
Personal details
Born1752
Died1839
NationalityBritish

General Sir James Duff (1752–1839) was a British army officer, who fought in the Napoleonic wars [1] and Member of Parliament (1784–1789).[2]

Life

[edit]

Duff was the eldest illegitimate son of James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife (1729–1809), and Margaret Adam, of Keith. As his mother was of humble status, her three children with Fife were placed in the guardianship of William Rose, Fife's factor. Fife liked Duff and took good care of him, sending him to Keith Academy and at King's College, Aberdeen, where he graduated MA in 1771, and after he entered the army paid for Duff's promotions.[2]

Duff entered the army as an ensign in the 1st Foot Guards on 18 April 1769. He was promoted lieutenant and captain on 26 April 1775, and made adjutant of his battalion in 1777, and on 30 April 1779 he was knighted as proxy for the celebrated diplomat Sir James Harris, afterwards 1st Earl of Malmesbury (and a close friend of his father), at his installation as a knight of the Bath. James Duff was promoted captain and lieutenant-colonel, on 18 July 1780, colonel on 18 November 1790. His regiment was part of the expeditionary force sent to Flanders to campaign against the French as part of the First Coalition (the British contingent under the command of Prince Frederick, Duke of York). He fought at the Battle of Valenciennes commanding the guards' light infantry battalion in 1794. On 30 October he was promoted to major-general.[1][2]

In 1797, Duff received the command of the Limerick district. While there he rendered important services during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and managed to keep his district quiet in spite of the state of affairs elsewhere. His name is associated with the Gibbet Rath executions where men under his command massacred several hundred people, who had previously received amnesty. He was elected M.P. for Banffshire (1784–9), and colonel of the 50th Regiment of Foot from 1798 to death.[1]

Duff was promoted lieutenant-general on 1 January 1801, and general on 25 October 1809, and at the time of his death, at Funtington, near Chichester, on 5 December 1839, he was the most senior general in the British army, and was one of the few officers who held a commission for over seventy years.[1]

He had as aides-de-camp during his Limerick command two famous officers, William Napier and James Dawes Douglas. There are numerous allusions to him in the Life of Sir William Napier.[1]

According to the Legacies of British Slave-Ownership at the University College London, Duff was awarded a compensation payment as a slave owner in the aftermath of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 and the Slave Compensation Act 1837. The British Government took out a £15 million loan (worth £1.8 billion in 2025[3]) with interest from Nathan Mayer Rothschild and Moses Montefiore which was subsequently paid off by the British taxpayers (ending in 2015). Duff was associated with "Jamaica Hanover 455 (Grange Sugar Estate)", he owned 202 slaves in Jamaica and received a £4,101 payment at the time (worth £491,604 in 2025[3]).[4] This is recorded by the Slave Compensation Commission and the records held at the National Archives at Kew, London.[5][6]

Family

[edit]

On 12 August 1785, Duff married Basilia (d. 1849), daughter and heir of James Dawes, of Rockspring, Jamaica, through whom he gained control of a considerable fortune. They had one son and three daughters.[2]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Stephens 1888, p. 129.
  2. ^ a b c d Stephens 2008.
  3. ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  4. ^ "General Sir James Duff". University College London. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Rear Admiral Sir Charles Adam". University College London. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Alf Young: Time to face up to bloody history of UK". www.scotsman.com.

References

[edit]
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Banffshire
1784–1789 		Succeeded by
Military offices
Preceded by Colonel of the 50th Regiment of Foot
1778–1839 		Succeeded by
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