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Sir David Ochterlony, 1st Bart (1758-1825), was born in Boston, USA, on 12 February 1758, the son of David Ochterlony (d. 1765), a merchant sea captain of Scottish descent. In 1770 his mother brought his family to England, and re-married. In 1777 Ochterlony was sent to India as a cadet. He became an ensign and then a lieutenant in the Bengal native infantry in 1778. In 1781 his regiment marched to Madras to assist with the campaign being waged against Haidar Ali, the ruler of Mysore, and his French allies. In 1783 he was wounded and captured while in action, but was released in 1785. He continued to serve in India, being promoted to captain and then major. His active service re-commenced in 1803 with the war against the Marathas, in which he fought with distinction, and he was appointed permanent resident at Delhi. Although soon transferred to the command of the fortress and station of Allahabad, he was evidently at ease in Mughal-Hindustani culture, like many other British contemporaries.
Continuing trouble brought Ochterlony's return to active service on the north-west frontier, in which he was again prominent, and then to a campaign in Nepal from 1814, where his leadership was decisive. He was created a baronet in 1816 as a reward for his service. In 1818 he was appointed resident at Delhi, and in 1822 he became resident of Malwa and Rajputana; but in that year his only son and his step-father both died and his grandson, aged four, returned to Scotland. His health, and his influence, declined, and he died on 14 July 1825 in Meerut.
On his death the title passed to his grandson, Sir Charles Metcalfe Ochterlony (1871-1891), who was the nephew of Capt H Salter. He was succeeded by his son, Sir David Ferguson Ochterlony, 3rd Bart (1848-1931), who was an accountant to the Scottish Education Department. He was succeeded by his son, Sir Matthew Montgomerie Ochterlony, 4th Bart, (1880-1946) who was succeeded by his brother, Sir Charles Francis Ochterlony, 5th and last Bart (1891-1964). |