Sir John Burgoyne, 7th Baronet

In 1781 Burgoyne was commissioned to raise a regiment of light dragoons for service in India, the first European cavalry sent out to that country.

This corps, originally known as the 23rd Light Dragoons, was formed out of drafts from other regiments, and had its rendezvous at Bedford.

Standards, now in possession of the 19th Hussars, were presented to it by George III, and early in 1782 it embarked, with other reinforcements, on board the East India fleet under convoy of Admiral Sir R. Bickerton, and landed at Madras towards the end of the year.

He entered the army as cornet in the Scots Greys in 1789, and in 1795 became lieutenant-colonel of the short-lived 32nd Light Dragoons.

Shortly before his death Burgoyne was the object of a curious and vexatious prosecution, in which the vicar of his parish sued him for penalties under an old law for not having attended divine service during a period exceeding twelve months.