John Pitcairn

John Pitcairn
Born	(1722-12-28)28 December 1722 Dysart, Fife
Died	17 June 1775(1775-06-17) (aged 52) Boston, Massachusetts
Buried	Old North Church, Boston
Allegiance	Great Britain
Service / branch	HM Marine Forces
Years of service	1746–1775
Rank	Major
Battles / wars	French and Indian War American War of Independence Boston campaign Battles of Lexington and Concord Siege of Boston Battle of Bunker Hill  (DOW)
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Dalrymple ​ (m. 1745)​
Children	9 (incl. Robert and David)

Major John Pitcairn (28 December 1722 – 17 June 1775) was a British military officer. Born in Dysart, Fife, he enlisted in the Chatham Marine Division of the British Naval Service at the age of 23. He served in North America during the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. Arriving in Boston in 1774 with the rank of major, he fought in the 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord during the outbreak of the American War of Independence. Two months later in June, Pitcairn was killed in action during the Battle of Bunker Hill. Respected by both his men and his American opponents, he was buried at Boston's Old North Church. At the time of his death Pitcairn was serving alongside his son Thomas, also a marine officer in the same division, who helped to carry his mortally wounded father from the battlefield.