Sunday, November 25, 2007

North Fife Flisk November Hopetoun Monument

Sir John Hope (4th Earl of Hopetoun) His statue outside The Royal Bank of Scoland office, Dundas Street,
Edinburgh.
1765 - 1823 Soldier. Born at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh. Hope served at the Battle of Alexandria (1801) and led the First Division in Spain during the Peninsular War (1808 - 14). Under the command of General Sir John Moore (1761 - 1809), the British Army was faced with defeat in 1808 with the French having taken Madrid and advanced towards them. The British executed a winter retreat under terrible conditions across the mountains from Astorga to the coast at Corunna, with the intention of escaping by sea. However, the French attacked with greatly superior numbers and a desperate battle ensured, but the British were eventually triumphant and the French suffered massive casualties. Hope distinguished himself in this battle and, when Moore was killed, Hope heroically took command of the British Army. Sir David Baird of Newbyth (1757 - 1829) was severely injured in the same battle. Hope's successful evacuation of his army earned him a knighthood in his own right from King George III. The Peninsular War ended with the capture and isolation of Napoleon on the Island of Elba.
Hope died in Paris and is remembered by various monuments, including large Hopetoun Monuments in Fife and East Lothian. His statue is to be found in front of Dundas House in Edinburgh's St Andrew's Square, Hope having been a governor of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Looking east from Flisk North Fife over Luthrie towards the phallic Hopetoun Monument, Mounthill on the way to Cupar. Just click to enlarge.What a man he was. from, The Gazetteer for Scotland.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My name is Deborah LaVonn Hope, my middle name is French I am in contact with Marty from the Hope Clan of Craig hill online. I have been searching for my roots? it seems as if something is wrong in the American
records with my ancestors history?
I have gone back as far as Brighton Pennsylvania to Henry and Helen Hope
settled in Beaver County. As merchants general store operators from England. I so wish for some help because at a young age I had adopted out my first born daughter
and after 22 years of waiting to find her.. I finally made contact
and wanted to map out the history of my ancestors for my kids/ she has a half brother and I am a single mom in Eugene Oregon.So any information as too whom Henery Hope's Father was in England would be much appreciated. thank you Deborah LaVonn Hope
3895 Marshall Avenue Eugene Oregon 97402 drop a line if you can sometime Thanks in advance advocate in Oregon.. I hear we come from a long line of scholars and advocacy is in our blood line.. Good genes?