Sir James Affleck, 3rd Baronet

General Sir James Affleck, 3rd Baronet (29 April 1759 – 10 August 1833) was a British Army officer. Affleck's first service was during the American Revolutionary War, in which he was severely wounded at the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778. A cavalryman for most of his career, he served in India during the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Affleck took command of the 16th Light Dragoons in 1795 during the French Revolutionary Wars, serving in garrison in England.

At the start of the Napoleonic Wars in 1803 Affleck was appointed a brigadier-general to command Limerick, advancing to major-general in 1805. He moved to command the Irish Western Military District in 1809, and resigned from that post in 1811 upon his promotion to lieutenant-general. He saw no further service, being promoted to general in 1825.

Early life

James Affleck was born on 29 April 1759 in Finedon, Northamptonshire, the eldest son of the Reverend James Affleck, vicar of Finedon, and Mary Proctor. His siblings included Robert Affleck and Thomas Affleck, the latter of whom became a captain in the Royal Navy. His paternal uncles were Admiral Philip Affleck and Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Affleck, 1st Baronet. Affleck was educated at Westminster School. having been promoted to lieutenant-general on 4 June. He saw no further active service, but was promoted to general on 27 May 1825.

Personal life

He inherited the family baronetcy from his cousin Sir Gilbert Affleck, 2nd Baronet on 17 July 1808. Affleck died at his home, Dalham Hall in Suffolk, on 10 August 1833. As Affleck was unmarried, the baronetcy was inherited by his brother Robert.

Affleck is memorialised by an obelisk weighing and measuring high, situated in the churchyard of St Mary in Dalham. Politically a conservative, Affleck opposed the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 and Reform Act 1832; also highly religious, ten clergymen were the pallbearers at his funeral.