John Slade

Major-General Sir John Ramsay Slade (16 March 1843 – 4 September 1913) was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding the British Troops in Egypt.

Early life and education

Slade was born at Berwick House in Berwick St Leonard, Wiltshire, into a distinguished military family, the eldest of four sons of Lieutenant-General Marcus Slade and his wife, Charlotte Ramsay. He was the grandson of General Sir John Slade, 1st Baronet and great-grandson of George Ramsay, 8th Earl of Dalhousie, and nephew of Admiral Sir Adolphus Slade.

He survived his three younger brothers. Arthur Maitland Slade (27 November 1846 – 1847) died in childhood, while Maj. Montagu Maule Slade (16 January 1849 – 29 February 1884) was killed in action in the Second Battle of Teb while serving with the 10th Hussars. His youngest brother, Lt.-Gen. Frederick George Slade (15 December 1851 – 16 August 1910) served in multiple campaigns in the late 19th century and was Inspector-General of the Royal Garrison Artillery headquarters 1902–1906. After taking part in the Bazaar Valley Expedition in 1878, he commanded a battery at the Battle of Maiwand in July 1880 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Personal life

Slade was twice married. In 1871, he married Lucía Amelia Aurora di Ramos (21 October 1872), daughter of Señor Don Vincente di Ramos in Marín, of Madrid. She died days after giving birth to their son, Victor Marcus (16 October 1872 – 21 January 1873), who died in infancy.

They had one daughter, Lucia Slade Marling – named after his late first wife – who married Sir Charles Murray Marling. but later converted to Roman Catholicism.