(1744 - 1821) of Brompton, Mx., 2nd s. of John Macpherson of Sleat, Isle of Skye; Edinburgh U.; EICo 1767 - 8, 1770 - 7, 1781 - 6, acting gov.-gen. 1785 - 6; MP 1779 - 82, 1796 - 1802; cr. Bt. 1786; unm.
1789 - 91 Florence (Jun. 1789 - ), Rome (winter 1789 - Apr. 1790), Florence (by Jun. - Jul. 1790) Venice (25 Jan. - 19 Feb. 1791), Padua (Mar.)
Sir John spent some time abroad after his unhappy experiences in India and some alleged irregularities in his parliamentary career. He is said to have been in Florence in 1789, advising the Grand Duke on financial and administrative matters, though his qualifications were not impeccable (DNB). A tall courtly figure, he had spent the winter of 1789 - 90 in Rome with his companion, a Mr Macaulay,1 and together they were called 'the gentle giant and his pocket pistol'.2 Elizabeth Gibbes met him in Rome in April 1790 and again in Florence in June and July.3 Edward Taylor met him in Florence in the summer of 1790 giving 'social entertainments'.2 'Il Cavalier Mascherson'/'Marchenson' was in Venice in January - February 1791,4 and in Padua in March, where Betsey Wynne met him with a companion, Mr Johnson. She thought him 'very good-natured'. When she met him again at Wardeck in November his companion had died, and he was proposing to visit Sicily, Gibraltar and Spain before returning to Switzerland.5
1. Laing mss, 2:535 - 6 (Chas.Erskine, 1 May 1790). 2. Taylor Papers, 9. 3. Gibbes jnl.mss (23 Apr., 27 Jun., 20, 21 Jul. 1790). 4. ASV is 762. 5. Wynne Diaries, 1:58, 83.