Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hope, John (1765-1836)
HOPE, Sir JOHN (1765–1836), lieutenant-general, born 15 July 1765, was son of John Hope (1739–1785) [q. v.], by his wife Mary, only daughter of Eliab Breton of Norton, Nottinghamshire, and Forty Hill, Enfield. Charles Hope [q. v.], lord president of the court of session, and Vice-admiral Sir William Johnstone Hope [q. v.] were brothers. In November 1778 John was appointed a cadet in the regiment of Houstoun of the Scots brigade in the pay of Holland, and after serving as corporal and sergeant, was made ensign in the regiment, which was quartered at Bergen-op-Zoom, in December 1779, and marched with it to Maestricht. After being some time at home he rejoined the regiment at Maestricht on promotion to captain on 26 April 1782, and withdrew from the Dutch service, receiving English half pay. In 1787 he was brought on full pay as captain 60th royal Americans, but his company was reduced soon afterwards. In 1788 he was appointed to a troop in the 13th light dragoons, and served from November 1792 as aide-de-camp to Sir William Erskine (d. 1795) in the Flanders campaigns and in Germany. On 25 March 1795 Hope became major, and on 20 Feb. 1796 lieutenant-colonel of the 28th Duke of York's light dragoons. This regiment he commanded at the Cape of Good Hope until it was drafted, when he returned home, and in April 1799 was appointed to the 37th foot, which he commanded in the West Indies until November 1804. He then exchanged to a battalion of the 60th foot at home, and was for some time an assistant-adjutant-general in Scotland. He was deputy-adjutant-general under Lord Cathcart in Hanover in 1805, and at Copenhagen in 1807. After serving as a general officer on the staff in Scotland and in the Severn district, Hope proceeded to the Peninsula, and commanded a brigade of the 5th division at Salamanca. He was invalided home soon afterwards. Wellington wrote: ‘Major-General Hope I am sorry to lose, as he is very attentive to his duties’ (Gurwood, Well. Desp. vi. 56, 73). Hope afterwards held brigade commands in Ireland and in Scotland until promoted to lieutenant-general in 1819. He was made colonel of the 92nd highlanders in 1820, and transferred to the 72nd highlanders in 1823.
Hope was made a knight bachelor on 30 March 1821, and was a G.C.H. He married first, in 1806, Mary, only daughter and heiress of Robert Scott of Logie, and by her had three children; she died in 1813; secondly, Jane Hester, daughter of John Macdougall, and by her had five sons and five daughters. He died at his seat in Scotland in August 1836, aged 71.
[Foster's Peerage, under ‘Hopetoun;’ Cannon's Hist. Rec. 72nd Duke of Albany's Highlanders; Gent. Mag. 1836, pt. ii. p. 653.]