David Leslie was a Scottish soldier. He was born in 1601 and died in 1682. A younger son of Sir Patrick Leslie, a Fifeshire land-holder, he sought his fortune in the service of Gustavus Adolphus. He became a colonel in the Swedish army, and then returned home in 1640 upon hearing that war between Charles I and his enemies was imminent. He was made major-general in the army commanded by Alexander Leslie, that was raised to assist the English parliamentarians, and had much to do with the victory at Marston Moor. Upon being recalled to Scotland he defeated the Marquess of Montrose at Philliphaugh, and served in the Highlands. He stood aside from the disastrous expedition that ended at Preston, but was the real commander of the Scottish army raised to oppose Cromwell. His authority having been weakened, he was defeated at Dunbar, but continued to resist Cromwell in Scotland, and afterwards fought at Worcester. He was imprisoned until 1660, and fined. In 1661 Charles II made him a peer as Lord Newark. Research David Leslie
Abbreviations
People
Research David Leslie