Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Scott, Thomas (1745-1842)
SCOTT, THOMAS (1745–1842), general, born on 25 Dec. 1745, was the second son of John Scott of Malleny in Midlothian, by his wife Susan, daughter of Lord William Hay of Newhall, third son of John, second marquis of Tweeddale. The Scotts of Malleny were descended from John, eldest son of Sir William Scott of Clerkington, appointed senator of the court of justice in 1642, by his second wife, Barbara, daughter of Sir John Dalmahoy of that ilk.
Thomas Scott obtained an ensigncy in the 24th regiment of foot on 20 May 1761. In the following year he served in Hesse under Ferdinand, duke of Brunswick, and carried the regimental colours at the battle of Wilhelmsthal. In 1763, returning home, he was stationed in Ireland, and obtained his lieutenancy on 7 June 1765. In 1776 he went to America with his regiment, and served two campaigns under General Burgoyne with a company of marksmen attached to a large body of Indians. He acquitted himself so well that he was twice mentioned in the despatches, and received his company on 14 July 1777. On 17 Oct. he succeeded in penetrating the enemy's lines and carrying to Sir Henry Clinton the tidings of Burgoyne's critical position at Saratoga. In 1788 he returned to Europe, and in 1791 served for six months with a detachment of the 53rd foot on board his majesty's ship Hannibal. In 1793 he served in the Netherlands under Sir Ralph Abercromby, and took part in the sieges of Valenciennes and Dunkirk. He received the rank of major for his exertions in the defence of Nieuport. On 27 Oct. 1794 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of one of the battalions of the 94th; in 1795 he accompanied his regiment to Gibraltar, and in 1796 to the Cape of Good Hope. In 1799 he took part in the campaign against Tipu Sultan, and was present at the capture of Seringapatam. In the following year ill health compelled him to leave India, but the Indiaman in which he took his passage was captured by a French privateer in the English Channel, and it was some weeks before he was exchanged. In 1801 he was appointed colonel by brevet, in 1802 inspecting officer of the Edinburgh recruiting district, in 1803 deputy inspector-general of the recruiting service in North Britain, and in 1804 brigadier-general. He attained the rank of major-general on 25 April 1808, and was nominated lieutenant-general on 4 June 1813. Until he retired at the close of fifty-two years' service he was never unemployed or on half-pay. He received the rank of general on 22 July 1830. After his retirement he resided chiefly at Malleny, and was a deputy-lieutenant for Midlothian. There he died, unmarried, on 29 April 1842, and was succeeded by his nephew, Carteret George Scott.
[Irving's Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen, p. 463; Burke's Commoners of Great Britain, iii. 170; Douglas's Baronage of Scotland, i. 218; Army Lists of the period.]