Military officer; born in
Glasgow, Scotland, in 1727; settled in
Virginia early in life; appointed senior captain in a regiment recruited to oppose the
French in 1754; and directed the construction of
Fort Necessity.
When
Maj. George Washington was forced to surrender the place he was one of the hostages given to the
French; was later imprisoned in
Quebec, but escaped with several companions on a third attempt, and after thirty-eight days of travel and hardship reached the
British army at
Louisburg; was promoted major while in captivity; went to
England in 1760; and was commissioned captain in the 15th Foot.
He left a valuable manuscript, which was edited by
James McHenry under the title
Memoirs of Maj. Robert Stobo, of the Virginia Regiment.
He died after 1770.
