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From a collection of recently acquired genuine autograph letters : 11 line ALS in the third person to the London auctioneer George Robins, saying that he had seen an advert for the sale of the Estate near Thirsk in Yorkshire, and would he communicate his particulars. Mention of Sir Charles Flint, Brodsworth, Caradoc [formerly Cradock], John Francis, first Baron Howden (17621839), army officer, the only son of the Most Revd John Cradock (1707/81778), archbishop of Dublin, and his wife, Mary, widow of Richard St George of Kilrush, co. Kilkenny, and daughter of William Blaydwin of Boston, Lincolnshire, was born on 11 August 1762 in Henrietta Street, Dublin, when his father was bishop of Kilmore. Cradock was admitted to Trinity College, Dublin, on 31 October 1774. His father's political influence was considerable, and he rose quickly in the army, having entered it in 1777 as a cornet in the 4th regiment of horse. In 1779 he transferred as ensign to the 2nd (Coldstream) guards. In 1781 he was promoted lieutenant and captain, and in 1785 major in the 12th light dragoons. In 1786 he exchanged into the 13th regiment, in 1789 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel and in the following year commanded the regiment when it was ordered to the West Indies at the time of the Nootka Sound affair. In 1791 Cradock returned to England on being appointed acting quartermaster-general in Ireland (he became quartermaster-general in September 1792), but in 1793 he accompanied Sir Charles Grey to the West Indies as aide-de-camp and was given command of two picked battalions selected for dangerous services. At their head he served throughout the campaign in which Grey seized the islands of the French West Indies, and he was wounded at the capture of Martinique. At its conclusion he received the thanks of parliament and was promoted colonel of the 127th regiment. On 1 October 1795 he was appointed assistant quartermaster-general, and on 1 January 1798 was promoted major-general. In 1798 his local knowledge was invaluable to Lord Cornwallis in the suppression of the Irish uprising. Cradock was present at the battle of Vinegar Hill and the capture of Wexford, accompanied Cornwallis against the French general Humbert, and was wounded in the affair at Ballinahinch. He sat in the Irish House of Commons as MP for Clogher, co. Tyrone (178590), Castlebar, co. Mayo (179097), Midleton, co. Cork, from 1799 to April 1800, and Thomastown, co. Kilkenny, in May 1800. In parliament he was a staunch supporter of the government, and on 17 February 1800 acted as second to the Rt Hon. Isaac Corry, chancellor of the Irish exchequer, in his famous duel with Henry Grattan in Phoenix Park, Dublin. At the same time, he strengthened his political connections by marrying, on 17 November 1798, Lady Theodosia Sarah Frances Meade (d. 1853), third daughter of John Meade, first earl of Clanwilliam. At the Union in 1800 Cradock lost his seat in parliament, but he was appointed to the staff of Sir Ralph Abercromby in the Mediterranean. He joined the army at Minorca, commanded the 2nd brigade, and was colonel 2nd battalion 54th foot (18012). He fought in the battles of 8, 13, and 21 March 1801 in Egypt, and after Abercromby's death accompanied General Hutchinson in the advance on Cairo as second in command. He was present at the surrender of Cairo, but then fell ill with fever and was unable to assist in the capture of Alexandria. At the conclusion of the Egyptian campaign he was appointed commander-in-chief of a corps of 7000 men and ordered to capture Corfu. The peace of Amiens put an end to the expedition, but he was made a KB (16 February 1803) and colonel of the 71st Highland light infantry (a post he held until 1809), and on 21 December 1803 he was appointed commander-in-chief at Madras as a local lieutenant-general. Cradock's command at Madras was marked by the mutiny at Vellore. Shortly after his arrival he decided to reduce the chaotic mass of regulations for the. Seller Inventory # 25151
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