Patrick, Lord Polwarth.
Appointed 28th April, 1707.
This officer was the son of Sir Patrick Hume, of Polwarth, who was one of the most conspicuous and vigorous characters of the age in which he lived, was a strenuous opposer of the proceedings of King Charles II. in Scotland, and was created, by King William, Lord Polwarth, and Earl of Marchmont.
Patrick Hume was educated in Holland, and the Prince of Orange gave him a commission in the Dutch service. He accompanied His Highness to England at the Revolution, and when his father was elevated to the dignity of Earl of Marchmont, he was styled Lord Polwarth. He was appointed major of a regiment of dragoons, now Seventh Hussars, in 1694; lieut.-colonel in 1697, and colonel in 1707. He died in 1709.
The Honorable William Kerr.
Appointed 10th October, 1709.
The Honorable William Kerr, third son of Robert, Earl of Roxburgh, and brother of John, first Duke of Roxburgh, served with reputation on the continent, under the celebrated John, Duke of Marlborough. In 1709 he was rewarded with the command of a regiment of dragoons, now Seventh Hussars, and on the accession of King George I. he was appointed groom of the bedchamber to the Prince of Wales. He highly distinguished himself at the battle of Dumblain, on the 13th of November, 1715, where, according to the accounts published at the time, he had three horses killed under him, was wounded in the thigh, and had his coat torn by a pistol bullet. The care and attention which he paid to the interests of his corps, procured him the affection and esteem of the officers and soldiers. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in 1727, to that of major-general in 1735, and to that of lieut.-general in 1739. He died in 1741, after commanding the regiment nearly thirty-two years.
John Cope.
Appointed 12th August, 1741.
John Cope entered the army in March, 1707, and speedily rose to the lieut.-colonelcy in the second or Scots troop of horse grenadier guards. He obtained the rank of colonel in the army in 1711. In 1730 he was promoted from the horse grenadier guards to the colonelcy of the thirty-ninth foot, from which he was removed to the fifth foot, in 1732. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in 1735; was removed to the ninth dragoons in 1737; and advanced to the rank of major-general two years afterwards. He served several years on the staff of Ireland, obtained the colonelcy of the Seventh dragoons in 1741, and proceeded, in the summer of 1742, to Flanders with the army commanded by Field-Marshal the Earl of Stair. In the beginning of the following year he was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general, and having signalized himself, under the eye of his sovereign, at the head of the second line of cavalry, at the battle of Dettingen, he was constituted a knight of the Bath.