Robert Anstruther ( British Army officer ) Robert Anstruther ( 3 March 1768 – 14 January 1809 ) , was a Scottish general who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars . Biography . Early career . Anstruther was the eldest son of Sir Robert Anstruther of Balcaskie , M . P . , and Lady Janet Erskine , daughter of the Earl of Kellie , and was born in 1768 . He was educated at Westminster School , but early showed a taste for a military life , and in 1788 his father purchased for him a commission as an ensign , and in 1792 the rank of lieutenant and captain in the 3rd Regiment of Foot ( The Scots Guards ) . He led the usual life of a young officer in the Guards , but at the same time paid great attention to his military duties . He served with his regiment in the campaigns of 1793 and 1794 in Flanders , and in 1796 was for a short time attached to the Austrian headquarters , but , seeing no further chance of active service in the Guards , he purchased , in March 1797 , a major ity , and in August of the same year a lieutenant - colonelcy in the 68th Regiment , with which he served in the West Indies , where he attracted the attention of Sir Ralph Abercromby . Campaigns in Holland and Egypt . In August 1799 , hearing that the guards were going on active service , he exchanged into his old regiment as captain and lieutenant - colonel , and served with it in the expedition to Den Helder . In the same year he married Miss Lucy Charlotte Hamilton , the daughter of Colonel Hamilton , of the Coldstream Guards , eldest son of Lord Anne Hamilton and a nephew of the Duke of Hamilton . The next year , though only a lieutenant - colonel , he was selected by Sir Ralph Abercromby to be quartermaster - general of his army in the Mediterranean , at the same time that another young Scotsman , John Hope , who was also to gain fame in Moore ' s retreat , was nominated adjutant - general . Sir Ralph placed the greatest confidence in Anstruther , and it was mainly on his report , after a visit to the Turkish headquarters , that the Turks would not be ready for a long time , if they could be of any use at all , that Sir Ralph left Marmorice Bay and determined to act alone . Through the whole Egyptian campaign he served with the greatest credit , and was made one of the first knights of the Crescent when the Sultan established that order . On his return he was promoted colonel , was made first deputy quartermaster - general in England , and then adjutant - general in Ireland , and spent some years of domestic happiness at home . But he failed in his attempt to obtain active employment , until , on the return of the Tories to power in 1807 , he was appointed brigadier - general , and ordered to take command of a brigade , consisting of the 20th and 52nd Regiments , and four companies of the 95th or Rifle Regiment , which was about to sail to the assistance of Sir Arthur Wellesley in Portugal . Peninsular war . He embarked at Ramsgate in August 1808 , and , on reaching the mouth of the Douro in company with Brigadier - General Acland , found orders from General Wellesley to proceed at once down the coast to Maceira Bay . Wellesley himself had , after his success at Roliça , marched along the coast , for he wished to receive reinforcements before he either attacked Lisbon or engaged Junot ' s whole army . At Paymayo and Maceira accordingly Anstruther and Acland met Wellesley and disembarked their brigades , though with much difficulty and loss from the heavy surf . When disembarked , Wellesley formed his whole army in a strong position at Vimeiro , and awaited the attack which Junot was meditating . At the battle of Vimeiro , the churchyard which formed the key of the English situation was occupied by the brigades of Fane and Anstruther , and on them fell the brunt of Junot ' s attack . The French were , however , repulsed with heavy loss , and Anstruther proved his ability as a brigadier . On the arrival of Moore , Burrard , and Dalrymple , the army was re - divided , and Anstruther had the other companies of the 95th given to him , and was put under the orders of Edward Paget , who was to command the reserve . On the advance into Spain , Paget led his brigades by way of Elvas and Alcantara , to join Moore at Salamanca . It was in the retreat from Salamanca , or rather from Toro , that Anstruther ' s most important military duties were performed . The reserve was ordered to form the rear division , and Anstruther ' s brigade actually closed the retreat . The conduct of the troops was now severely tried , but the reserve stood the test well . While the leading divisions were perpetually in disorder , the reserve , of which both officers and men had been trained by Sir John Moore himself at Shorncliffe , maintained perfect discipline , and in Anstruther ' s brigade served two of the regiments , the 52nd and 95th , which were to form the nucleus of the famous Light Division under Wellington . As far as Lugo , the French were never a day ' s march behind , every day saw sharp skirmishes , and there were at least two smart engagements at Cacabelos on 3 June and Constantino on 5 June , in which the reserve and cavalry were alone concerned . General Anstruther proved himself a model officer , and Moore declared that to the conduct of the reserve , and of Paget and Anstruther in particular , the safe arrival of the army at Corunna was due . But the exertions of this trying time were too much for General Anstruther , and on 14 June , the day but one after he had led his brigade into Corunna , and the day but one before the battle , he died from fatigue and exhaustion . He was buried at Corunna , and when Moore was himself dying , he expressed a wish to be buried beside his gallant friend and companion , so that the column erected by Marshal Soult over Moore ' s remains marks also the grave of Robert Anstruther . He presents a singular instance of military devotion ; with wealth , domestic happiness , and a certain seat in parliament , he preferred to risk his life and lose it in the service of his country .