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General A. C. Eobertson. By T. Stevenson, P.R.S.A. 
General A. G Robertson, the eldest son of Lieutenant David 
Eobertson, of Eoyal Marines, was bom at Edinburgh, February 8, 
1816, and was educated at the High School and University there. 
I knew him from boyhood as a bom soldier, always ready to fight 
his battles with other boys under every circumstance of disadvantage, 
and when he found a difficulty in getting his commission he at once 
joined other volunteers from this country who took part in fighting 
against Dom Miguel in Portugal in 1834. Serving under Sir de 
Lucy Evans, he saw much heavy service with the British Auxiliary 
Legion in the north of Spain. He was present at the relief of 
St Sebastian and at the other battles which followed in quick 
succession during the years 1836 and 1837. At Ametza Eobertson 
was severely wounded by a rock splinter from a round shot. He 
received for his services in Spain two medals and the cross of the 
first class of San Fernando. Eobertson had risen to be captain in 
the Legion when, owing to some difference with his commanding 
officer, he threw up his commission and enlisted in another regiment, 
and rose again to be captain — a promotion which took place before 
he was one-and-twenty. In 1837 he obtained a commission in the 
34th Regiment, serving with it for three years in Canada, having 
got his company in 1845. 
In 1842-43 he had studied at the Senior Department, Sandhurst 
— the germ of the present Staff College, — and obtained superior 
certificates in mathematics and surveying. In April 1846 he ex- 
changed into the 8th (the King’s), with which he continued for the 
remaining twenty-nine years of his regimental service. A few days 
after the arrival of his regiment at Delhi, Eobertson joined if there 
along with Colonel Baird Smith of the Engineers, and served in the 
siege till September 11, when the breakdown of his health com- 
pelled his being sent to the hills. Colonel Greathead says in his 
diary : — “ Robertson was under fire from seven in the morning until 
six in the evening;” and again, regarding the mutiny, “The work 
was very well done, and the King’s behaved very steadily under 
Captain Robertson, who is one of the bravest and coolest men under 
fire that can be seen.” For his services during the mutiny he was 
