Historical Record of the Thirteenth Regiment of Light Dragoons / Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1715, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1842

by Richard Cannon

Archibald Douglas,

Appointed 18th October, 1758.

After a progressive service in the subordinate commissions, this officer was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy of the fourth dragoons in February, 1747; he was also advanced to the rank of colonel in the army, and honoured with the appointment of aide-de-camp to the King. In 1758 His Majesty conferred upon him the colonelcy of the Thirteenth Dragoons. He was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1759, and to that of lieut.-general in 1761. He died at Dublin, in October, 1778.

Richard Pierson,

Appointed 27th November, 1778.

Richard Pierson was many years an officer in the first foot guards, in which regiment he was appointed major, with the rank of colonel in the army, on the 21st of July, 1760. In 1762 he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and in 1764 he was appointed colonel of the sixty-third regiment of foot, from which he was removed in the following year to the thirty-sixth regiment. In 1772 he was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general; he was also honoured with the dignity of a Knight of the Bath; and in 1778 he was removed to the Thirteenth Dragoons. He was taken suddenly ill on his return from the theatre on the night of the 12th of February, 1781, and died before the following morning.

Francis Craig,

Appointed 15th February, 1781.

Francis Craig obtained a commission of ensign and lieutenant in the second foot guards on the 22nd of April, 1742, and he served in that regiment upwards of thirty-three years. He served with the brigade of foot guards in Germany, in 1760–61, and –62, and was promoted to the rank of colonel in the army in 1763. In 1775 he was advanced from first major of the second, to lieutenant-colonel of the first, foot guards, and promoted to the rank of major-general. In 1777 he attained the rank of lieutenant-general; he was appointed colonel of the Thirteenth Dragoons in 1781, and promoted to the rank of general in 1793. He was many years governor of Sheerness. He died in 1811, in the eighty-sixth year of his age.

The Hon. Sir Henry George Grey, G.C.B., G.C.H.