Telescope used by General Sir John Moore, 1809

Manufactured in brass and mahogany by Jacob Abraham of Bath, 1809.

Born in Glasgow in 1761, the son of a medical practitioner, Moore fought in the American War of Independence (1779-1783), and in Corsica during the French Revolutionary War (1794). He went on to serve in the West Indies (1796), Ireland (1798), Holland (1799), Egypt (1801), Sicily and Sweden (1802).

In 1808 he was sent to Spain to reinforce the British Army during the Peninsular War (1808-1814), and took command in the same year. However by December of 1808 defeat was imminent, the French having taken Madrid. Moore led a winter retreat under terrible conditions across the mountains from Astorga to the coast at Corunna, with the intention of evacuating his army by sea. However, the French attacked with superior numbers. Although the British and Spanish won the subsequent battle, Moore was killed on 16 January 1809.