Editing Ralph Abercromby (section)

==Early life==

Ralph Abercromby was born on 7 October 1734 at [[Menstrie Castle]], [[Clackmannanshire]]. He was the second (but eldest surviving) son of George Abercromby (1705-1800), a lawyer and descendant of the Abercromby family of Birkenbog, Aberdeenshire and Mary Dundas (died 1767), daughter of Ralph Dundas of Manour, [[Perthshire]]. His younger brothers include the advocate [[Alexander Abercromby, Lord Abercromby]] and [[Robert Abercromby of Airthrey|General Robert Abercromby]].<ref name="CBD">[[Chambers Biographical Dictionary]], {{ISBN|0-550-18022-2}}, page 4</ref><ref>{{Cite ODNB |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-45 |title=Abercromby, Sir Ralph, of Tullibody (1734–1801), army officer. |last=Gates |first=David |date=4 October 2007 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/45 |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref>

The family had acquired Menstrie Castle in 1719 but their main family house was the nearby [[Tullibody]] House which they had built around 1700. Much of Ralph's childhood was spent in the latter.<ref>Clackmannan and the Ochils, by Adam Swan ISBN 07073 0513 6</ref>

Abercromby's education was begun by a private tutor, then continued at the school of Mr Moir in [[Alloa]], then considered one of the best in Scotland despite its Jacobite leanings. Ralph attended [[Rugby School]] from 12 June 1748, where he remained until he was 18. Between 1752 and 1753, he was a student at the [[University of Edinburgh]]. There he studied moral and natural philosophy and civil law, and was regarded by his professors as sound rather than brilliant.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Abercromby |first1=James |title=Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K. B., 1793–1801 |date=1861 |publisher=Edmonston and Douglas |location=Edinburgh |page=16 |url=https://archive.org/stream/lieutenantgener02dunfgoog#page/n30/mode/2up |access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref> He completed his studies at [[Leipzig University]] in Germany from autumn 1754, taking more detailed studies in [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] with a view to a career as an [[advocate]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Spenser |title=From Cromwell to Wellington: twelve soldiers |date=1899 |publisher=Lawrence and Bullen, ltd |location=London |pages=288–325 |url=https://archive.org/stream/fromcromwelltowe00wilkrich#page/290/mode/2up/search/tullibody |access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref>