William Sharp

Major-General Sir William Sharp, 6th Baronet of Scotscraig, (1729-1780) was a Scottish soldier of fortune, who had a varied and ultimately successful military career but an unhappy private life.

Life Born on 28 January 1729 in St Andrews, he was the only surviving son of Sir Alexander Sharp, 5th Baronet, (1697-1769) and his wife Margaret Hamilton (1697-1783).

While he was studying at the University of St Andrews, the 1745 Rebellion broke out and he joined the rebel forces. Captured by the British Army, he was condemned to death.

Accepted in the French Army as an officer trainee, by 1761 he was a captain. In that year he resigned his commission and, although an unpardoned rebel, returned to Britain.

The father gained promotion to Major-General in 1775 His Portuguese widow remarried.

Margaret in Scotland, who had learned about her Portuguese successor, went back to using her maiden name of Bethune, which was also used for the rest of his life by her son Alexander, who never claimed his father's baronetcy. and changed his own name to William Bethune subsequently marrying Isobel Morison, who gave him a daughter Isabella in 1795. The three were painted by Wilkie. thumb