Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 02.djvu/57

Anstruther claimed as belonging to him by virtue of his office.' He resided for the most part at Mortlake, where he died on 5 Dec. 1754, having shortened his days by excessive indulgence in wine. Anstis's abilities commanded respect, but his 'violent vindictiveness' made him many enemies, especially among his colleagues at the Heralds' College. He died a bachelor, and his brother George, vicar of Coliton, Devonshire, became his heir.

[Noble's History of the College of Arms, pp. 379-80; Nichols's Anecdotes, v. 272, &c.]  ANSTRUTHER, ALEXANDER (1769–1819), Anglo-Indian judge, was the second son of Sir Robert Anstruther, bart., of Balcaskie, Fifeshire. He was born 10 Sept. 1769; called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn, and published 'Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Court of Exchequer, from Easter Term 32 George III to Trinity Term 37 George III, both inclusive,' which were published in three volumes in 1796 and 1797, and were reprinted for a second edition in 1817. The work is a careful and accurate compilation, and was for many years a useful legal authority. Anstruther went out to India in 1798, and was appointed advocate-general at Madras in 1803; in March 1812 he succeeded Sir James Mackintosh as recorder of Bombay, and was knighted; he died at Mauritius on 16 July 1819. While on his voyage out to India he wrote a small work on 'Light, Heat, and Electricity.'

[Calcutta Monthly Journal, August 1819; Asiatic Journal, May 1820; David Jardine in Soc. D. U. K. Dict.]  ANSTRUTHER, JOHN (1753–1811), politician and Anglo-Indian judge, was the second son of Sir John Anstruther, bart., of Elie House, Fifeshire. He was born 27 March 1753; educated at Glasgow University under Professor Millar; called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1779; practised chiefly before the House of Lords in Scotch appeals; and was M.P. for Cockermouth, 1790-96. He was an active supporter of Fox, and one of the managers appointed to conduct the impeachment of Warren Hastings, his duty being to sum up the evidence on the charge relating to Benares, and to open the charge relating to presents. In 1797 he was appointed chief justice of Bengal, and created a baronet; in 1806 he returned to England; was immediately sworn on the privy council, and re-entered parliament as member for the Kilrenny district of burghs. In 1808 he succeeded to his father's baronetcy; and died in London 26 Jan. 1811.

[Gent, Mag. lxxxi. 683, lxxxii. 494.]  ANSTRUTHER, ROBERT (1768–1809), general, was the eldest son of Sir Robert Anstruther, Bart., M.P., and Lady Janet Erskine, daughter of the Earl of Kellie, and was born in 1768. He was educated at Westminster, but early showed a taste for a military life, and in 1788 his father purchased for him an ensigncy, and in 1792 the rank of lieutenant and captain in the 3rd or Scots guards. He led the usual life of a young officer in the guards, but at the same time paid great attention to his military duties. He served with his regiment in the campaigns of 1793 and 1794 in Flanders, and in 1796 was for a short time attached to the Austrian head-quarters, but, seeing no further chance of active service in the guards, he purchased, in March 1797, a majority, and in August of the same year a lieutenant-colonelcy in the 68th regiment, with which he served in the West Indies, where he attracted the attention of Sir Ralph Abercromby. In August 1799, hearing that the guards were going on active service, he exchanged into his old regiment as captain and lieutenant-colonel, and served with it in the expedition to the Helder. In the same year he married Miss Hamilton, the daughter of Colonel Hamilton, of the guards, a nephew of the Duke of Hamilton. The next year, though only a lieutenant-colonel, he was selected by Sir Ralph Abercromby to be quartermaster-general of his army in the Mediterranean, at the same time that another young Scotchman, John Hope, who was also to gain fame in Moore's retreat, was nominated adjutant-general. Sir Ralph placed the greatest confidence in Anstruther, and it was mainly on his report, after a visit to the Turkish headquarters, that the Turks would not be ready for a long time, if they could be of any use at all, that Sir Ralph left Marmorice Bay and determined to act alone. Through the whole Egyptian campaign he served with the greatest credit, and was made one of the first knights of the Crescent when the sultan established that order. On his return he was promoted colonel, was made first deputy quartermaster-general in England, and then adjutant-general in Ireland, and spent some years of domestic happiness at home. But he failed in his attempt to obtain active employment, until, on the return of the tories to power in 1807, he was appointed brigadier-general, and ordered