COPE, SIR JOHN, only son of Lieut. -Col. Henry Cope, Icomb, Gloucs., and Dorothy Waller, “widow of an exciseman”; b. 1690; at school c. 1700 (History of Parliament, House of Commons 1715-54, I, 576, apparently relying on EHR lxxviii, 655-68 which in turn references British Library, Additional Manuscripts 22231, 31134 and 31135); page to Lord Raby, Ambassador at Berlin 1706; Cornet, 1st Dragoons 1707; served in War of Spanish Succession; ADC to Gen. James Stanhope 1708-9; Capt., 33rd Foot 1709; Peterborough’s Dragoons 1709; Capt. and Lieut. -Col., 3rd Foot Guards 1710; Lieut. -Col., Macartney’s Foot 1712; Wynne’s Foot 1712; Brevet Col. . 1713, with seniority as from 15 Nov 1711; half-pay 1713; Lieut. -Col., 2nd Foot Guards 22 Jul 1715; 1st Horse Grenadier Guards 27 Apr 1720; Col., 39th Foot 10 Nov 1730 – Dec 1732, 5th Foot 15 Dec 1732 – Jun 1737; Brig. -Gen., 1735; Col., 9th Dragoons 27 Jun 1737 – Aug 1741; Maj. -Gen., 2 Jul 1739; Col., 7th Dragoons, from 12 Aug 1741; Lieut. -Gen. 7 Feb 1742/3; Commander in Chief, Scotland 1745; in command at battle of Prestonpans, when defeated by Jacobite rebels; acquitted at subsequent court martial, but not again employed; MP Queenborough 1722-7, Liskeard 1727-34, Orford 1 Feb 1738-41; KB 12 Jul 1743; m. 1st, 16 Dec 1712 (IGI) Jane, sister of Anthony Duncombe, 1st Baron Feversham (qv); m. 2nd, Elizabeth ---; d. 28 Jul 1760.