The Irish Brigade in the Service of France
The Irish Brigade owes its origin to the arrival in France of five Regiments of Infantry, under the command of Lord Mountcashel, Lord Clare, The Honourable Arthur Dillon, Col. Butler, and Col. Fielding, estimated at 2,013 officers and men, which were reformed into the Brigade of Mountcashel, and comprised the Regiments of Lord Mountcashel, Lord Clare, and Col. Arthur Dillon.
After the fall of Limerick these Regiments were followed by the rest of the Jacobite army, estimated at 19,059 officers and men, and reviewed in 1692 at Vannes by James II., and subsequently at Brest on the landing of the last division under Major-General Lord Lucan: it was then decided that the Irish who were to act under the commission of King James should be enrolled in eight Regiments of Foot, three independent companies and two Regiments of horse, i.e.:
The Royal Regiment of Foot Guards, commanded by the Duke of Ormond.
The Queen’s Regiment, commanded by Col. Simon Luttrell.
The Regiment of Marine, commanded by Col. the Duke of Albemarle.
The Regiment of Limerick, commanded by Col. Richard Talbott.
The Regiment of Charlemont, commanded by Col. Gordon O’Neill.
The Regiment of Dublin, commanded by Col. Sir Michael Creagh.
The Regiment of Athlone, commanded by Col. Sir Maurice Eustace.
The Regiment of Clancarty, commanded by Col. Roger MacElligott.
The King’s Regiment of Dismounted Dragoons, com. by Col. Thomas Maxwell.
The Queen’s Regiment of Dismounted Dragoons, com. by Col. Francis O’Carroll.
The Independent Companies, commanded by Captains Brown, Hay, and Sutherland.
The King’s Regiment of Horse, commanded by Col. Dominick Sheldon.
The Queen’s Regiment of Horse, commanded by Col. Lord Galmoy.
And on change of Commanders these Regiments were called after their respective Colonel Proprietors. Abbé MacGeoghegan affirms that his researches in the French War Office show that from the arrival of the Irish troops in France, in 1691, to the year 1745, more than four hundred and fifty thousand Irishmen died in the service of France. Mitchel observes in his History of Ireland: “The statement may seem almost incredible; especially as Spain and Austria had also their share of our military exiles.
Allen, Luke, Major, 1756; Aide-de-Camp Major-General, 1759 | Regiment de Lally. |
Arthur, Lieut.-Col., 1747 | „ de Roth. |
Barrett, Lieut-Col., 1693; killed at battle of Landau whilst gallantly leading his regiment | „ de Dorrington. |
Barnewall, Alexander, Lieut.-Col., 1693 | O’Gara’s Dragoons. |
Begg, Commander | Regiment de Walsh. |
Betagh, Chevalier, Colonel Proprietor, 1741 | Fitzjames’s Horse. |
Botagh, Count, Col. Proprietor, 1763; Major-General, 1770 | Regiment de Botagh. |
Bourke, Tobias, Major, 1690 | „ de Lally. |
Bourke, Walter, Lieut-Col., 1698 | „ de Berwick. |
Brown, Colonel of Second Battalion, 1758 | ” de Lally. |
Brown, Colonel of Second Battalion, 1779 | „ de Dillon. |
Burke, Michael, Lieut.-Col., 1701 | „ de Albemarle. |
Burke, Walter, | „ „ |
Butler, Edmund, Major, 1690 | Sheldon’s Horse. |
Butler, Captain, 1745 | Regiment de Lally. |
Bulkeley, François, Count, Reformed, Colonel | „ de Berwick. |
Cantwell, Edmund, Major, 1715 | „ de Athlone. |
Comerford, Captain, 1745 | „ de Bulkeley. |
Conway, Thomas, Count, Knight of St.Louis; Colonel, 1733; took part in the American war of Independence, and served as Brigadier in the American Army, 1778; appointed a Major-General in the French service, 1784, and Governor of Pondicheriy, East Indies; died in 1800. | |
Creagh, Sir Michael, M.P., Lord Mayor of Dublin, Col. Proprietor, 1692 | Regiment de Dublin. |
Cusack, Lieut.-Col., 1746 | „ de Roth. |
Darcy, Patrick, Count, Knight of the Orders of St. Louis and St. Lazarus; Colonel, en suite; Major-General, 1770; died in Paris, 1779 | Fitzjames’s Horse. |
Dillon, the Honble. Arthur, Col. Proprietor, 1690; killed at Mountmelion, 1691 | Regiment de Dillon. |
Dillon, Count Charles, Col. Proprietor, 1730 | „ „ |
Dillon, Count Henry, Col. Proprietor, 1741 | „ „ |
Dillon, Chevalier James, Col. Proprietor, 1744; Knight of Malta, fell in battle of Fontenoy | „ „ |
Dillon, Count Edward, Col. Proprietor, 1745; fell in battle of Laffeldt | „ „ |
Dillon, Count Arthur, Col. Proprietor, 1747 | „ „ |
Dillon, Count Theobald, Col. Proprietor, 1767; assassinated at Lille, 1792 | „ „ |
Dillon, Robert, Earl of Roscommon, Col. Proprietor, 1766 | „ de Roscommon. |
Dillon, Count Edward, Lieut.-Col., 1799 | Regiment de Walsh. |
Dorrington, William, Col. Proprietor, 1688; Lieut.-General, 1703; died in Paris, 1718 | Regiment de Dorrington. |
Eustace, Sir Maurice, Col. Proprietor | „ de Athlone. |
Fitzgerald, Sir John, Col. Proprietor, 1694 | „ de Limerick. |
Fitzgerald, Nicholas, Lieut.-Co)., 1696 | „ de Albemarle. |
Do. Col. Proprietor, 1703, Major-General, 1708; mortally wounded at Oudenarde | „ de Fitzgorman. |
Fitzgerald, Captain, 1744 | „ de Lally. |
Fitzgerald, James, Lieut.-Col., 1756 | „ de Lally. |
Fitzgerald, Captain, 1759 | „ de Berwick. |
Fitzgerald, James, Iieut.-Col., 1761; Major-General, 1762 | „ de Clare. |
Fitzmaurice, Lieut.-Col., 1690 | „ de O’Brien. |
Fitzmaurice, Thomas MacRobert, Knight of St. Louis: joined the Regiment of Roth at an early age; Colonel, 1776 | „ de Walsh. |
Fitzmaurice, Thomas, Knight of St. Louis; Col., 1777 | „ de Walsh. |
Grant, Lieut.-Col., 1746 | „ de Clare. |
Hennesey, Lieut.-Col., 1747 | „ „ |
Lacy, Lieut.-Col., 1688 | „ de Dublin. |
Lacy, Peter, Count, Lieut., 1690; after the Peace of Ryswick entered the Russian Service, became a Colonel, 1708; General of Brigade, 1710; Governor of Livonia, 1739; Field Marshal of Russia, 1741; died in 1751 | „ de Athlone. |
Lally, James, Lieut-Col., 1690 | „ de O’Brien. |
Lally, Sir Gerrard, Lieut.-Col., 1792 | „ „ |
Lally, Count Arthur, Major, 1742 | „ de Dillon. |
Do. Col. Proprietor, 1744; Kt. Grand Cross of St. Louis; Lieut.-Gen., 1746 | „ de Lally. |
Lally, Michael, Col. Commandant, 1756; Brigadier, 1769 | „ „ |
Lee, Andrew, Col. Proprietor, 1793; Kt. Grand Cross of St. Louis; Lieut.-General | „ de Lee. |
Mahony, Jeremiah, Lieut.-Col., 1694 | „ de Limerick. |
Mead, Chevalier, Col. Proprietor, 1770 | „ de Clare. |
Meagher, Major, 1741 | „ de Bulkeley. |
Meagher, Capt., 1746 | „ „ |
Meagher, Capt., 1774 | „ „ |
MacDonnell, Major, 1779 | „ de Dillon. |
MacCarthy, Justin, Lord Mountcashel, Colonel Proprietor, 1691 | „ de Mountcashel. |
MacCarthy, Owen, Lieut.-Col., 1715 | „ de Athlone. |
MacElligott, Roger, Col. Proprietor, 1692 | „ de MacElligott. |
Maguire, Lord, Lieut.-Col., 1709 | „ de Dillon. |
MacMahon, Joseph, Lieut.-Col., 1692 | „ de Charlemont. |
MacMahon, Maurice, Knight of Malta; Capt., 1761 | Fitzjames’s Horse. |
Maxwell, Charles, Major, 1693 | O’Gara’s Dragoons. |
Maxwell, Thomas, Col. Proprietor, 1691; Brigadier-General of Dragoons, 1693 | Maxwell’s Dragoons. |
Murphy, Edmund, Major, 1692 | Regiment de Charlemont. |
Murphy, Cornelius, Major, 1692 | „ de MacElligott. |
Murphy, Lieut.-Col., 1749 | „ de Lally |
Nugent, Richard, Lieut.-CoL, 1698 | „ de Albemarle. |
Nugent, Christopher, Col. Proprietor, 1706 | Nugent’s Horse. |
Nugent, Robert, Count, Col. Proprietor, 1716; Marshal of France. 1775 | „ „ |
Nugent, John, 5th Earl of Westmeath; Col. Poprietor, 1746 | Fitzjames’s Horse. |
Nugent, Patrick, Lieut.-Col., 1706 | Regiment de Berwick. |
O’Brien, Daniel, Kt. of St. Louis and St. Lazarus; 4th Viscount Clare; Col. Proprietor, 1690; died of wounds received in battle of Marsaglia, 1693 | Regiment de Clare. |
O’Brien, Murrogh, Col. Proprietor, 1705; Major-General, 1719; died in 1720 | „ „ |
O’Brien, Charles, 5th Lord Clare, Col. Proprietor 1693; Major-General; died in 1706 of wounds received in Battle of Ramilles | „ „ |
O’Brien, Daniel, 4th Lord Clare; Col. Proprietor 1690-3; died at Pignerol, 1693, of wounds received in battle of Marsaglia | „ „ |
O’Connor, Chevalier Capt., 1787 | „ de Walsh. |
O’Connell, Lieut-Col., Inspector-General of Infantry, 1782; a British Colonel 1830; died at Madon, 1833 | „ de Clare. |
O’Brien, Charles, 6th Lord Clare, 1706; Col. Proprietor; Marshal of France, 1761; died at Monpollier, 1767 | „ „ |
O’Brien, Charles, 7th Lord Clare, 1761; Col. Proprietor; died 1774 | „ „ |
O’Carroll, Turenne, Lieut-Col., 1693 | Kilmallock’s Dragoons. |
O’Carroll, Francis, Col. Proprietor, 1692 | O’Gara’s Dragoons. |
O’Donnell, Daniel, Lieut.-Col., 1705 | Regiment de Fitzgerald. |
Do. Col. Proprietor, 1705 | „ de O’Donnell. |
O’Donnell, Daniel, Lieut.-Col., 1715 | „ de Clare. |
O’Donohoe, John, Lieut., 1677 | Garde du Corps. |
O’Donohoe, Edmond Jean, Chevalier, born at Cork, 1688, Maitre aux requetes et Conselier Malines | Nugent’s Horse |
O’Donohoe, Florence, born 1586; Colonel en Suite | „ „ |
O’Donohoe, Robert Jean Joseph, Conseillier pensionnaire de la Ville de Bruges, 1747 | „ „ |
O’Donohoe, Jacques Alexander, Conseillier au Conseil de Flanders | „ „ |
O’Donohoe, Jean Joseph, Chevalier de St. Louis; Col.; died, 1780 | Regiment Royal d’Eccosais. |
O’Donohoe de la Ronce, Joseph Ambrose; Captain 1780 | „ de Clare. |
O’Donohoe de la Ronce, Armand, cleve aux College Royal de la Fleche, 1772 | „ „ |
O’Gara, Oliver, Lieut.-Col., 1688 | de Dorrington. |
Do. Col. Proprietor, 1696 | O’Gara’s Dragoons. |
O’Hagarty, Lieut.-Col., 1745 | Lally’s Dragoons. |
O’Kennedy, Lieut.-Col., 1690 | Sheldon’s Horse. |
O’Kennedy, Col. Second Battalion | Regiment de Lally. |
O’Madden, Daniel, Lieut.-Col., 1703 | „ de Fitzgerald. |
O’Meagher,Thomas, Capt., 1691 ... | „ de Mountcashel. |
O’Meagher, Lieut. Reforme, admitted to the Hotel des Invalides, 1706 | „ „ |
O’Meagher, Capt., 1706 | Galmoy’s Horse. |
O’Meagher, Capt., 1712 | Regiment de Lee. |
Do. Major, 1735; fell in the battle of Laffeldt, 1747 | „ de Bulkeley. |
O’Meagher, Patrice, 1st Lieut., 1745; Capt., 1774 | „ „ |
O’Meagher, Phillipe, Capt., 1766 | „ „ |
O’Mullaly, James, Lieut.-Col. | „ de Clare. |
Do. Colonel Second Battalion, 1690; fell at the Siege of Montmeloin | „ „ |
O’Neill, Lieut.-Col., 1742; fell at Fontenoy | „ „ |
O’Neill, Gordon, Col. Proprietor, 1692 | „ de Charlemont. |
O’Shee, William, Colonel | „ „ |
Power, John, Col. Proprietor, 1692 | „ de Dublin. |
Roth, Michael, Count; Lieut.-Col., 1692 | Regiment de Dorrington. |
Roth, Michael, Colonel, Proprietor, 1718; Lient.-General, 1720 | „ de Roth. |
Roth, Charles Edward, Count; Col. Proprietor, 1733. This officer distinguished himself in the battle of Fontenoy. Lieut-General, 1748 | „ „ |
Sarsfield, Dominick, 4th Lord Kilmallock; Col. Proprietor, 1693 | Kilmallock’s Dragoons. |
Sarsfield, Jacques François Edward, 3rd Earl of Lucan; Reformed Col., 1715; Knight of the Golden Fleece | Nugent’s Horse. |
Sarsfield, Jacques Hyacinth, Viscount; Capt., 1746; Inspector of Horse, and Lieut.-General, 1781 | „ „ |
Sarsfield, Edmund, Lieut.-Col., 1791 | Regiment de Walsh. |
Scott, Edward, Lieut.-Col., 1692 | „ de M‘Elligott |
Sheldon, Dominick, Col. Proprietor, 1690; Lieut-General, 1704 | Sheldon’s Horse. |
Sheldon, Daniel, Major, 1698 | „ „ |
Sheridan, Capt., 1716; Major General of Cavalry | Nugent’s Horse. |
Shee, Baron, Richard de. | „ „ |
Talbott, Richard, Col. Proprietor, 1690 | Regiment de Limerick. |
Talbott, Richard, Col. Proprietor, 1693; fell at the battle of Luzzara, 1702 | „ de Clare. |
Terry, William, Major, 1695 | „ de Limerick. |
Tobin, James, Major, 1690 | Galmoy’s Horse. |
Walsh-Serrant, Count Antoine Joseph, Col. Proprietor, 1770 | Regiment de Walsh. |
Warren, Capt., 1744 | „ de Lally. |
Wanchop, Walter, Lieut.-Col., 1715 | „ de Athlone. |
Wogan, Capt, 1744 | „ de Lally. |