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'''Alexander Beatson''' (1758<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYNY-J7X |title=Person Details for Alxr. Beatson, "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950" — FamilySearch.org |website=[[FamilySearch]] |access-date=25 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306140820/https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYNY-J7X |archive-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>–1830<ref name="familysearch1">{{Cite web |url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J8DQ-DX9 |title=Person Details for Alexander Beatson, "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991" — FamilySearch.org |website=[[FamilySearch]] |access-date=25 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214640/https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J8DQ-DX9 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>), was an officer in the [[East India Company]]'s service, governor of [[St. Helena]], and an experimental agriculturist.<br />
<br />
==Life==<br />
He was second son of Robert Beatson, Esq., of Kilrie, [[Fife|Fife County]], Scotland, and a nephew or cousin of [[Robert Beatson]].<ref>{{ODNBweb|id=1826|title=Beatson, Robert|first=Andrew|last=Grout}}</ref> He obtained a cadetship in 1775, and was appointed to an ensigncy in the [[Madras Army|Madras infantry]], 21 Nov. 1776. He served as an engineer officer in the war with [[Hyder Ali]], although he appears never to have belonged to the engineers. As lieutenant, he served with the Guides in [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|Lord Cornwallis]]'s campaigns against [[Tippu Sultan]]; and eight years after, as a field officer, was surveyor-general with the army under [[George Harris, 1st Baron Harris|Lieutenant-general Harris]], which [[Fourth Anglo-Mysore War|captured Seringapatam]] in 1799. He attained the rank of colonel 1 Jan. 1801.<br />
<br />
After leaving India, Beatson was governor of St. Helena from 1808 to 1813. The island, which then belonged to the East<br />
India Company, was in a very unsatisfactory condition. The scanty population had been<br />
nearly swept off by a [[measles]] epidemic a short time previously, and, although recruited by emigrants from England and by Chinese coolies, was in a wretched state. The acts of the home authorities in suppressing the spirit traffic and other matters gave rise to great discontent, resulting in a mutiny in 1811, which was put down by the<br />
firmness of Beatson, who also introduced a better system of cultivation and many other<br />
beneficial measures.<br />
<br />
After his return to England, he devoted much attention to experiments in agriculture at Knole farm and Henley in Frant, Sussex, near<br />
[[Tunbridge Wells]]. He became major-general July 1810, lieutenant-general June 1814, and died 15 October 1830.<ref name="familysearch1"/><br />
<br />
==Family==<br />
<br />
On 28 December 1805 he was married to Davidson Reid (sic) (1787–1865) who was 18 at the time of marriage. She returned to family members in [[Edinburgh]] after his death and is buried in the churchyard of [[St John's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh|St John's]] on [[Princes Street]].<ref>Grave of Davidson Reid, St Johns, Edinburgh</ref><br />
<br />
She was born in [[Kinghorn]] in [[Fife]] the daughter of David Reid and Jean Renny. They had 13 children.<br />
<br />
==Works==<br />
Beatson was the author of the following<br />
works:<br />
*''An Account of the Isles of France and Bourbon,'' 1794, which was never printed, and remains in manuscript at the British Museum (Add. MS. 13868).<br />
*''A View of the Origin and Conduct of the War against Tippoo Sultaun'' (London, 1800, 4to).<br />
*''[https://books.google.com/books?id=6bwTAAAAYAAJ Tracts relative to the Island of St. Helena],'' with views (London, 1816, 4to)<br />
**other smaller works on the island besides contributions to the St. Helena ''Monthly Register''<br />
*''[https://books.google.com/books?id=-hUAAAAAQAAJ A New System of Cultivation without Lime or Dung, or Summer Fallowing, as practised at Knole Farm, Sussex]'' (London, 1820, 8vo);<br />
**various papers on improvements in agriculture.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
*{{cite DNB|wstitle=Beatson, Alexander|last=Chichester|first=Henry Manners|authorlink=Henry Manners Chichester|volume=4}}<br />
<br />
References marked "via DNB" are from the DNB article but have not been independently verified.<br />
*(via DNB) Dodswell and Miles's Alph. Lists Ind. Army<br />
*(via DNB) Vibart's Hist, of Madras Sappers and Miners, vol. i.<br />
*(via DNB) Beatson's writings.<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*{{Worldcat id|lccn-n88-87281}}<br />
<br />
;Attribution<br />
{{DNB|wstitle=Beatson, Alexander|last=Chichester|first=Henry Manners|authorlink=Henry Manners Chichester|volume=4}}<br />
<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Beatson, Alexander}}<br />
[[Category:1758 births]]<br />
[[Category:1830 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:British East India Company Army generals]]<br />
[[Category:British military personnel of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War]]<br />
[[Category:People from Fife]]</div>Bot