Early promotions He entered the
British Army in 1754 as
ensign in the 3rd Buffs and quickly rose through the ranks to fulfil a distinguished career. He became a
lieutenant on 21 June 1756, and
captain in the
64th Regiment of Foot, on 20 August 1759; a
brevet-major 23 July 1772;
major, 64th Foot, 17 August 1774; and
Lieutenant-Colonel,
40th Regiment of Foot, 27 August 1776, on the death of Lieutenant-Colonel James Grant at
Brooklyn (Flat Bush).
American War of Independence He commanded his regiment (40th foot) in the expedition to
Philadelphia in the
American War of Independence, where he greatly distinguished himself at
Germantown, one of
Earl Cornwallis's outposts in front of
Philadelphia, when the American army in great force attacked the village on the morning of 4 October 1777. Musgrave, with six
companies of his
regiment, threw himself into a large stone house, later known as
Chew House, which he defended with great resolution against repeated attacks, until he was reinforced and the Americans repulsed. The action was commemorated by a silver medal, which was at one time worn as a regimental order of merit. The house is represented on the medal, and is the background of one of the engraved portraits of Musgrave in the
British Museum Prints.
Service in the West Indies Musgrave went in 1778 to the
West Indies as
quartermaster-general of the troops sent from
New York under Major-general James Grant (1720–1806) of
Ballindalloch, to capture and defend
St. Lucia. He left the West Indies sick, but afterwards returned as
brigadier general to
America, and was the last
British commandant of
New York. Along with Brigadier-general
Samuel Birch, Musgrave signed the certificates of freedom for former black slaves after the war.
Service in England and India In 1781, he returned home as
aide-de-camp to the
king, and deputy
governor of Stirling Castle. Cornwallis mentions him as at the reviews at
Berlin in 1785 with
Ralph Abercromby and
David Dundas (1735–1820). On 12 Oct. 1787, Musgrave was appointed
colonel of the new
76th Regiment of Foot or 'Hindustan' regiment, which was raised for service in India, by the
East India Company. The rendezvous was at
Chatham, and the recruits were chiefly from the Musgrave family estates in the north of England. Musgrave went out to
India with it, and served on the staff at
Madras for several years. He became a
major-general, 28 April 1790. His hopes of a command against
Tipu Sultan were disappointed by Lord Cornwallis, who appears to have thought that Musgrave did not work harmoniously with the civil government of Madras. Musgrave's plan of operations is published in 'Cornwallis's Correspondence. On his return Musgrave received many marks of attention from royalty. He was appointed governor of
Chelsea Hospital, but exchanged with
William Fawcett for that of
Governor of Gravesend and Tilbury, which did not require residence. He became a lieutenant-general 26 June 1797, and general 29 April 1802; and being upon his death colonel of the
76th Regiment of Foot. ==Death==