Sir Colin Campbell
Sir Colin Campbell commanded the Highland Brigade, which included the 93rd, during the Crimean War, taking charge of the Thin Red Line at Balaklava. When the Indian Mutiny of 1857 broke out, he was appointed, at the age of 64, Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in India. The 93rd, his favourite Highlanders fought alongside this experienced, tough but admired soldier throughout the campaign, often facing far superior numbers, in particular during the Relief of Lucknow, the bloodiest struggle of the whole campaign.
Sir Colin, the son of John McLiver and Agnes Campbell was born in 1792 on Islay, an Island off the west coast of Scotland. In 1807 the young Colin McLiver was introduced, by his uncle, John Campbell, to the Duke of York, as a candidate for a commission in the army. The Duke assumed the boy to be a Campbell like his uncle and remarked “another of the clan”, and so Colin McLiver’s name was noted as Colin Campbell. When Colin was about to protest his uncle told him Campbell was a good name to fight under. In 1808, his illustrious military career started in earnest and Sir Colin went on to serve throughout the Peninsular Wars, where he was severely wounded twice leading his men. During the following years his military attributes led to quick and deserved promotion and in 1858 Queen Victoria bestowed a peerage on Sir Colin, remarking at the time, that he exposed himself to danger too often in the heat of battle and that the country could ill afford to lose him. Sir Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde, became ill and died in 1863.
