Background
He succeeded his father, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, 7th Baronet, in 1848.
He succeeded his father, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, 7th Baronet, in 1848.
In his early years John served for two years in the Portuguese Army during that country"s Civil War, which ended in 1834. He joined, that year, the Honourable East India Company"s Bengal Army as a Cadet and was raised to an Ensign in June the following year in the North India Regiment. He arrived in India on 28 July 1835 and was promoted to lieutenant on 15 December 1838.
On 14 February 1839 he was appointed adjutant to the HEIC"s Jalaun Corps (which later became the Bundelkhand Legion), and served in disturbances in Bundelkhand (1840-1841), Jigni, and Chirgaon, and became Acting Captain-Commandant of cavalry, Bundelkhand Legion, on 24 January 1842.
He was in Singapore and China for 10 months in 1843-1844, returning to India and the Legion the latter year. He retired from that army on 19 May 1847 returning to civilian life in Scotland.
He was later a Knight of Justice of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, and had two seats: Fountainhall Manor, nr Pencaitland, Grange House, near Edinburgh, and a residence in Edinburgh at 13 Grosvernor Crescent.
Sir John married at Saint Cuthbert"s, Edinburgh, on 22 May 1845, Lady Anne (1820–1919), daughter of North Hamilton Dalrymple, 9th Earl of Stair.
Sir John"s death was reported in the Illustrated London News, 6 April 1867, (p347).