LUMSDEN, WILLIAM [SSNE 515]
- Surname
- LUMSDEN, LUNSDALE, LUMSDELL, LUNSDAINE, LUNSDAILE,
- First name
- WILLIAM
- Title/rank
- MAJOR
- Nationality
- SCOT
- Region
- AIRDRIE, FIFE
- Social status
- OFFICER
Text source
William Lumsden was a son of Robert Lumsden of Airdrie in Fife and Isabel Cor (sometimes erroneously described as a French woman), daughter of Clement Cor. He was also the brother of Colonel James Lumsden [SSNE 3003] and Colonel Robert Lumsden [SSNE 514]. He first served in the Danish-Norwegian army as an ensign in Colonel Donald Mackay's [SSNE 93] regiment. William saw action at Breitenburg in 1627. He served as a lieutenant in Seaton's company at Stralsund in 1628 and was later appointed captain. He, like many other Scottish officers, then entered Swedish service where he joined James Spens' [SSNE 1642] regiment. He returned to Scotland during the time of the civil wars. William served the Army of the Solemn League and Covenant at Marston Moor in 1644 with the rank of Major in the Merse Foot. From 1645-1647 he served as lieutenant colonel of the Strathearn Foot in the army of the Solemn League and Covenant. William led the regiment during its campaigns in 1646. He was captured along with his brother James at the battle of Dunbar in 1650. In December of that year he appealed for the payment of his arrears, but nothing further is known of him after this.
Sources: J. Mackay, 'Mackay's Regiment' in Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, VIII, 1879, p. 186; R. Monro, His Expedition with a worthy Scots Regiment called Mac-Keyes (London, 1637), I, pp. 38-9 and 78-9; Swedish Krigsarkiv, Muster Roll, 1629/22; 1632/28; T. Riis, Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot (Odense, 1988), II, p.131; Oxford DNB; Acts of the Parliament of Scotland, vol. VI, p.573; Lt. Col. H.W. Lumsden, Memorials of the Families of Lumsdaine, Lumisden or Lumsden (Edinburgh, 1889). Dr Aonghas Maccoinnich provided the updated information on Isabel Cor.
English Civil War
any role in the Bishops Wars is to be established
Service record
- DENMARK-NORWAY, MACKAY'S REGIMENT
- Arrived 1627-01-01, as ENSIGN
- Departed 1627-12-31, as ENSIGN
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
- SWEDEN, JAMES SPENS
- Arrived 1629-01-01, as ENSIGN
- Departed 1638-12-31, as MAJOR
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
- STUART KINGDOMS, ARMY OF THE SOLEMN LEAGUE, MARSTON MOOR
- Arrived 1644-01-20, as MAJOR
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY