An Original Handwritten and Signed Letter byJohn Colville, 8th Lord Colville of Culross to John Spottiswood. Dated 1771. A long personal letter to a John Spottiswood with regards to matters and opinions from third parties. John Colville, 8th Lord Colville of Culross 1725–1811. John was born in 1724. He was the son of John Colville and Elizabeth Johnston. John entered the army in 1740 and was sent to Carthagena but arrived too late to see him alive. In 1744 he was given a commission to the 21st Regiment of Fusiliers. He fought at Fontenoy, Siege of Ostend, Culloden and Gibraltar. He was made Captain in 1754. He married Amelia Webber in 1758 while in Gibraltar. After the Peace with France in 1763, he retired from the Army and was appointed Inspector General to the Outposts in Scotland.He succeeded as the 8th Lord Colville of Culross in 1770 after his brother Vice Admiral Alexander Colville died without issue.