Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gibson, John (1637-1717)

1183423Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 21 — Gibson, John (1637-1717)1890Francis Nevile Reid

GIBSON, Sir JOHN (1637–1717), colonel, son of Sir John Gibson, knt., of Alderstone, in Ratho parish, near Edinburgh, entered the Dutch army, and obtained a captain's commission dated 9 March 1675; as major, in 1688, he accompanied William of Orange to England. He obtained from the English war office his commission as lieutenant-colonel on 28 Feb. 1688–9; became colonel of a newly raised regiment on 16 Feb. 1693–4; and colonel of a regiment to be raised (afterwards the 28th foot, now 1st battalion Gloucestershire) on 12 Feb. 1701–2, holding the command until 1 Feb. 1704–5. He was lieutenant-governor of Portsmouth from 28 May 1689, until his death on 24 Oct. 1717. He was commander-in-chief in 1697 of the land-forces sent to capture Newfoundland. He left England in March and returned in October, having secured the fishing rights of the English settlers. After unsuccessfully contesting the representation of Portsmouth in January 1695–6, he was elected for the borough in 1701–2, and was knighted by Queen Anne 6 Sept. 1705.

He left two sons, Francis and James, and two daughters; Anne Mary, the eldest, married General Robert Dalzell (1662–1758) [q. v.], in whose biography in this dictionary it is erroneously stated that 'Sir John Gibson married Dalzell's sister.'

[Archives in the Hague War Office and Record Office; London Gazette; English private letters, Brit. Mus.; Luttrell's Brief Relation of State Affairs, containing very many references to Gibson's career at Portsmouth.]

F. N. R.