Baird David

Baird, David, Sir, Bart, K.C.B., born at Newbyth, Aberdeenshire, in 1757, at the age of fifteen entered the army, and in 1779, as a captain, went out to India in the 73rd Highlanders. He was wounded in Baillie's disastrous defeat, taken prisoner by Hyder Ali, and shut up for four years in Seringapatam. On his release he went home, but again returned to India in 1791, assisting in the capture of Pondicherry in 1793. Six years later he was sent to the Cape, but in 1799, with the rank of brigadier-general, appeared once more in Madras to act under General, afterwards Lord, Harris, against Tippoo Sahib. At his request the storming of Seringapatam was entrusted to him, and most gallantly did he perform the task, but his disappointment was keen when the governorship of the town was handed over to Colonel Arthur Wellesley, his subordinate. Baird served in the expedition to Egypt via the Red Sea (1801-2), when Rosetta and Alexandria were taken; he acted against Scindiah in 1803 4, and captured Cape Town from the Dutch in 1805. He next took part in Cathcart's capture of Copenhagen in 1807, and in 1808 was second in command at the battle of Corunna, where he lost his arm but gained a baronetcy. In 1820 he held for a short time the chief command in Ireland, but was not successful. Retiring from active employment, he died in 1829.