STOBO, Robert, soldier, born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1727; died after 1770. His father, William, was a wealthy merchant. The son was very delicate in his youth, but early gave evidence of taste for arms, spending his play-hours in drilling his companions. Both his parents had died before 1742, and, after studying for some time in the university of his native place, he went to Virginia about that year and became a merchant. Here he kept open house and was a great social favorite, but met with little success in business, and in 1754 was appointed senior captain in a regiment that was raised by the province to oppose the French. Under his direction the intrenchments called Fort Necessity were thrown up, and when finally Major George Washington was obliged to surrender the work, Stobo was one of two hostages that were given to the French to secure proper performance of the articles of capitulation. He was sent to Fort Du Quesne, and occupied himself with drawing a plan of that stronghold, which, with a written scheme for its reduction, he sent to the commanding officer at Wills Creek. He was greatly aided in obtaining his information by the ladies in the fort, whose good graces he soon succeeded in gaining. He considered that the want of good faith that the French had shown in various matters absolved him " from all obligations of honor on this point." His letters fell into the hands of the French at Braddock's defeat, whereupon Stobo was closely imprisoned at Quebec. He escaped in 17;56, but was captured, confined in a dungeon, and on 28 November was condemned to death as a spy, but the king failed to approve the sentence. On 30 April, 1757, he escaped again, but he was recaptured three days later. On 30 April, 1758, he made another attempt, and succeeded in effecting his escape with several companions in a birch-bark canoe. After meeting with many adventures and travelling thirty-eight days they reached the British army before Louisburg, where Stobo was of much service by his knowledge of localities. He had been promoted major during his captivity, and. after returning to Virginia sailed in 1760 for England, where, on 5 June, 1761, he was commissioned captain in the 15th foot. He served in the West Indies in 1762, but returned to England in 1767, and resigned in 1770. On his visit to Virginia after his captivity the legislature thanked him by name for his services, and voted him the sum of £1,300. Stobo was a friend of Tobias Smollett, the novelist, who, it has been suggested, describes him as Captain Lismahago in " Humphrey Clinker." The original edition of Stobo's "Memoirs " (London, 1800) is now rare. A manuscript copy was obtained by James McHenry from the British museum, and published, with notes, addenda, and a facsimile of Stobo's plan of Fort Du Quesne, by "N. B. C." as " Memoirs of Major Robert, Stobo of the Virginia Regiment" (Pittsburg, 1854). This unique work is largely written in an imitation of the classical epic style.