Son of William McLean & Isobel Fraser

b. 1791 SCO - d. 1879 SCO

Chelsea Pensioner (recorded on Scottish census records)

Probable military record -

Place of birth: Croye, Inverness, Invernessshire

Regiment:1st Battn 93rd Regiment Of Foot

Injured in the ankle in 1815 near New Orleans

According to the above army discharge document, Hector enlisted as a 16 year-old on 10 April 1810 (going by his date of birth, he would have been 19). He was described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, with brown hair and a fresh complexion and was a labourer. He was injured in the ankle in 1815 near New Orleans (America). He served as a private for three years and 128 days and was discharged from service on 10 August 1815.

Possibly Hector was wounded during the Battle of New Orleans -

On 28 December 1814 the British advanced up the left bank of the Mississippi River towards New Orleans. The 93rd Highlanders came under fire 750 yards from Andrew Jackson's parapet, by the parapet and a schooner on the river. They lay for five hours in the rain, sleet and bombardment; the British then pulled back. On 1 January 1815 the British attempted a reconnaissance in force. Torrential rain bogged down artillery and troops. The American left flank actually routed and were in flight but this was unperceived by the British until it was too late to take advantage. On 8 January 1815 it was the final British assault. Mistakes and bad luck added up. The American position on the right bank of the river was overrun and captured. On the left bank the American advance redoubt taken by a detachment of light infantry companies including that of the 93rd. The British right flank faltered. The 93rd aborted support to captured redoubt and crossed the field to help the faltering right flank assault. It halted one hundred yards from the parapet. Lt Colonel Dale was killed. No orders were given to advance or withdraw. The 93rd stood fast and was mown down. General Edward Pakenham was killed. Orders were finally received and after a futile attempt to advance, the 93rd marched off field. British losses were 2,000. The 93rd contributed 300 to 550 killed, wounded and imprisoned. Over 18-30 January the British withdrew downriver to the ships and embarked. On 11 February the British captured Ft Bowyer outside Mobile, Alabama. The 93rd and others landed on Dauphin Island outside Mobile Bay. On 13 February the Sloop-of-War brought news of preliminaries of peace at Ghent. The women and children of the 93rd were allowed ashore.