Sir Peter Halkett Pitfirrane's 4th Bart(1705-1755)

Sir Peter Halkett was the 4th Baronet of Pitfirrane. A man of great honor and merit. He was a Member of Parliament for the burgh of Dunfermline, Scotland in 1774 and for Inverkeithing in 1739. Sir Peter was Provost of the city of Dunfermline (1752-1755) - one of 10 Halketts to serve as Provosts of this Scottish city.

But Sir Peter made the army his career and was a distinguished military officer. Colonel Sir Peter sailed from Cork in January 1754 as the Commanding Officer of the British 44th Foot Regiment. His mission was to participate in the French and Indian War in North American on behalf of the British Colonies. The operation was under the direction of Major General Braddock and Sir Peter was second-in-command.

During an ill-fated expedition to capture the French Fort Duquesne, in Western Pennsylvania, Colonel Sir Peter, along with his youngest son James, a lieutenant in the same regiment, were killed by musket fire from a French-Indian ambush attack on 9 July 1755. The attack occurred along the Monongahela River near Fort Duquesne. General Braddock was also mortally wounded in this skirmish.