Major-General John Pringle of Symington (1774–1861) was a 19th-century Scottish soldier.

Life

He was born on New Year's Eve, 31 December 1774 at

Carrington, Midlothian Carrington is a small, rural village in Midlothian, Scotland. It is located to the south of Bonnyrigg. The civil parish of the same name has a population of 316 (in 2011).Census of Scotland 2011, Table KS101SC – Usually Resident Population, pub ...

. His family were originally from

Shetland Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands and formerly Zetland, is a subarctic archipelago in Scotland lying between Orkney, the Faroe Islands and Norway. It is the northernmost region of the United Kingdom. The islands lie about to the no ...

. His father was Captain Robert Pringle, descended from Thomas Hoppringle of Symington (died 1684). In 1812 he built Symington House, near

Gala Water The Gala Water ( Lowland Scots: Gala Watter; Scottish Gaelic An Geal Ath) is a river in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland and a tributary of the River Tweed. It is sometimes known as the "Gala", which nickname is also shared with Galashiels, ...

. He lived his final years at 5 Mansionhouse Road (aka "Springfield Cottage") in the Grange district of south

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. He was a near neighbour to Major Alexander Skene. He died on 29 December 1861, shortly before his 87th birthday.dean Cemetery grave inscription He is buried in

Dean Cemetery The Dean Cemetery is a historically important Victorian cemetery north of the Dean Village, west of Edinburgh city centre, in Scotland. It lies between Queensferry Road and the Water of Leith, bounded on its east side by Dean Path and on ...

on the west side of the city. The grave lies on the wall backing onto the first northern extension. His house at Symington is now a

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

Family

In 1802, whilst a Captain, he was married to Christian Watson (1779–1854), daughter of Samuel Watson. They had at seven children. Initially after marriage they lived in

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a City status in Ireland, city in the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lo ...

in Ireland. His great uncle was Judge Robert Pringle of

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...

(1702–1776), father to John Julius Pringle.

References

1774 births 1861 deaths People from Midlothian Scottish landowners British Army generals Burials at the Dean Cemetery {{UK-army-bio-stub