Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Honourable East India Company Medal for Seringapatam 1799, silver, 48mm., Soho Mint, contained in a contemporary red leather and wood hinged case, the inner silk lining of the lid with old ink inscription ‘Lt Cl McGrigor / Lieut 33d Regt / at Seringapatam / 1799’, the case with tear to leather on lid and otherwise scuffed, toned, nearly extremely fine £1,000-£1,400

‘Lieut.-Col. Charles M’Gregor [M’Grigor in contemporary Army Lists]. This officer entered the service early in 1794, as Ensign, by purchase, in the 97th reg. then serving in Guernsey; early in 1795, he was promoted Lieut. by purchase, and went to Canada, doing duty as a marine; on the 97th being drafted, he was removed to the 88th reg. and sailed with it in the expedition under Sir R. Abercromby and Admiral Christian; early in 1796, the transport in which he was on board, was captured by an enemy’s squadron, and he was carried to Brest. In 1796, he was removed to the 33d reg. and joined that corps in India; he was present with it during the whole of the Mysore campaign of 1799, against Tippoo Saib; was in the Mallivelley in March, and before Seringapatam in April, and during the siege, and at the assault and capture in May of the same year. He exchanged into the 73d reg. early in 1800; and was present with it during the whole of the campaign against Doondiah Waugh; served with the grenadiers of his corps, in the assaults of Coongall and Dummull, and in all the actions of that campaign. In 1801, he served in the campaign under M.-Gen. Campbell, of the East India company’s service, in the ceded districts, and was present at the capture of the several forts during that service; he was latterly appointed Maj. of brigade. He was promoted to a company in the 90th reg., by purchase, in the same year, and joined it the year following, and served with it as Capt. of Light Infantry in Scotland, and in Ireland, in 1802, 1803, and 1804. He accompanied his reg. to the West Indies in 1805; and the year following was appointed an Assist. in the Quart.-Mast.-Gen’s. Department, and served in that capacity until the end of 1811. He was the Assist. at Head Quarters, and had the equipment of the expedition to Martinique and Guadaloupe in 1809 and 1810; and was present at the capture of both of those Colonies; for which service he was promoted to the brevet rank of Major. In 1811, he was obliged to return to Europe on account of ill health, and was then appointed Assist. in the Quart.-Mast.-Gen’s. Depart. and stationed at Portsmouth, where he remained until May 1812, when he was promoted to a Majority of the 63d reg. and soon after removed to the 70th. He joined in the same year, and embarked in command of the corps the year following, for Canada, where the reg. has been ever since, and where he is now in command of it.’ (The Royal Military Calendar, 1820, refers).

Charles M’Grigor was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army on 4 June 1814. He accompanied the 70th (Glasgow Lowland) Regiment to Canada where it arrived from Ireland on 24 June 1814, and remained in Canada until 1828. Lieutenant-Colonel M’Grigor is not shown in the Army List for 1830.