William Dickson

Brigadier General William Dickson of Kilbucho (1748–1815) was an 18th/19th-century commander of the British Army and Member of Parliament.

Life

He was born on 3 June 1748 the son of Rev David Dickson of Kilbucho (1709-1780) and his wife, Anne Gillon (1712-1783), daughter of Alexander Gillon of Wallhouse, Linlithgow. His father was a descendant of John Dickson of Hartrie, through whom he had inherited Kilbucho Castle.

He joined the British Army as an ensign in the 4th Regiment of Foot in 1777, possibly seeing action in the American War of Independence. He was based in Saint Lucia in 1778 and on return to Britain was promoted to lieutenant in 1779. In 1782 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and joined the 42nd Regiment of Foot (Black Watch) returning to the war in America. In 1783 he was posted with his regiment in Nova Scotia. They only returned to Britain in 1789.

He remained in the Black Watch for the rest of his Army career. He was promoted to Major in 1795 and a few months later to Lt Colonel. He served in the Egyptian Campaign against Napoleon. In 1804 he became Brigadier General.

In 1808 he was given the important position as Governor of Cork in the south of Ireland in place of Henry Skeffington, 3rd Earl of Massereene. He retired in 1811/2 and spent his final years in Edinburgh.

Dickson died in Edinburgh on 18 May 1815. His brother John inherited Kilbucho but chose to sell the estate.