General Thomas Graham and the 90th (Perthshire) Volunteers

A brand new biography of General Thomas Graham, founder of the 90th (Perthshire) Volunteers, has recently been written by retired Cameronian officer, Major Philip Grant.

In his book, Grant describes Thomas Graham’s long and varied life in absorbing detail, often quoting from his vivid letters and diaries.

Graham famously raised his regiment in 1794 in an effort to exact his revenge on the French. Graham’s wife, Mary, died off the southern coast of France in 1792; while bringing his wife’s body back to Scotland for burial, Graham was accosted by French revolutionaries who desecrated his wife’s remains in search of supposed ‘contraband’. Incensed by this desecration, Graham is said to have immediately petitioned the British government for permission to raise a regiment to fight against France.

The 90th (Perthshire) Volunteers, later the 90th (Perthshire) Light Infantry, would go on to amalgamate with the 26th (Cameronians) Regiment in 1881 to form The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

To mark the release of this excellent new biography of such an important figure in the regimental history of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), we have created a small display in Low Parks Museum using objects relating to Thomas Graham and the Perthshire Volunteers.

These include an early prize medal issued by Thomas Graham to the best shot in his regiment, Private W. Smith. The hallmarks on the medal indicate it was manufactured around 1800. It was most likely awarded shortly before the 90th embarked for overseas service in Egypt where it would have it’s first taste of action in the Battle of Mandora.

Also featured is an example of the first cross-belt plate adopted by the 90th and worn from 1794 – 1796.

The feather cockade worn by Thomas Graham at the Battle of Barrosa completes the display.

You can learn more about Thomas Graham and the raising of the 90th (Perthshire) Volunteers by visiting Low Parks Museum, where you can also pick up a copy of Philip Grant’s new book,    A Prince among Peers: The Life of Thomas Graham.

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