304' Notes on Newton Don. By C. B. Balfour. 



lion, before alluded to, bears the arms of this Sir Alexander, 

 viz., Don of Newton impaling Murray of Philiphaugh. 



Sir Alexander was one of the Kelso Lodge of Freemasons, 

 which he entered in 1751, as appears by the minutes of 

 the Lodge. 



He died on 2nd September 1776, leaving issue — 



(i.) Alexander, who succeeded. 



(ii.) George, afterwards General Sir George Don, G.O.B., 

 born 1754. 



(in.) Elizaheth married, 1776, Francis Scott of Beechwood, 

 second son of the Hon. Walter Scott of Harden. In Burke's 

 Peerage her name is given as Mary. 



Sir Alexander's second son, George Don, was one of the 

 most distinguished members of the family.^" 



He was born 1754, gazetted ensign in the 5l8t Regiment 

 26th December 1770, joined the regiment at Minorca, and 

 was promoted lieutenant June 1774. He was appointed a.d.c. 

 to General Johnstone, the Governor of the island, and was 

 transferred to the staff of his successor. General James Murray, 

 in 1778, who shortly after made him military secretary. He 

 was chief of the staff during General Murray's defence of 

 the Castle of St. Philip, in Minorca, in 1781-2 ; was mentioned 

 in despatches for his conduct, and recommended for a brevet 

 majority, to which he was promoted 25th November 1783. 



He became major in the 59th Regiment 21st April 1784, 

 and purchased the Lieut. -Colonelcy of the regiment 9th April 

 1789, when stationed at Gibraltar, where he remained till 

 1792, when he obtained a staff appointment at home. 



In 1793 he was d.a.g. to Sir James Murray in the Duke 

 of York's army in the Netherlands. During the absence of 

 Major-General J. H. Craig, he acted as a.g. in 1794, and was 

 promoted for his services to the rank of full colonel, and made 

 A.D.C. to His Majesty King George III.. 26th February 1795. 



After the army left for England, he remained ui Germany as 

 military commissioner with the Prussian army until he was pro- 

 moted Major General 1st Jan. 1798 ; when he was recalled and 

 appointed to the command of the troops in the Isle of Wight. 



In 1799 he joined the expedition to the Helder under the 

 Duke of York, in which he commanded the Third Division under 

 Sir David Dundas. 



"*^ Diet. Nat. Biography. 



