of horse raised in June, 1685, and the Colonelcy conferred on the
Earl of Scarsdale, who was succeeded, on the 1st of December, 1687,
by Charles, Duke of St. Alban's. This regiment was remarkable for
being one of the first corps which joined the Prince of Orange in
November, 1688; having been conducted to His Highness's quarters
by the Lieutenant-Colonel, Thomas Langston, who was immediately
promoted to the Colonelcy of the regiment, and his brother, Captain
Francis Langston, of the Royal Dragoons, was promoted to the
Lieutenant-Colonelcy. Colonel Thomas Langston died of a fever at
Lisburn, in Ireland, in December, 1689, and the Colonelcy of the
regiment was conferred on his brother Francis. This regiment served
at the battles of the Boyne and Aghrim in Ireland, and at Steenkirk
in the Netherlands; but having lost many men and horses, the
remainder were transferred to other corps, and the regiment was taken
off the establishment of the army in the autumn of 1692. The officers
served _en seconde_ until vacancies occurred in other regiments.
[12] When the regimental record was read to King William IV. in
November, 1835, at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, His Majesty
observed--'I was often at the house where the peace of Ryswick was
signed. It was then the property of the Earl of Athlone, but now
belongs to the Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen, sister to her Majesty the
Queen.'
[13] Official Records in Ireland.
[14] While the regiment was on Dublin duty the following curious
order was received.
'_Dublin, 31st January, 1764._
'Lieutenant-General Fowkes recommends to the officers of the garrison
that they would not play at the castle whilst on duty; and that the
officers of the Horse Guards will avoid mixing with the ladies in the
drawing-room, on account of the inconveniency of spurs to the ladies'
hoop petticoats.
(Signed) 'D. GRANT, Captain 52nd Reg.,
for the Major of Brigade.'
[15] It has been stated that the troop-horses' tails were first
docked in 1698; but the practice did not become general until ten
years afterwards.
[16] See the Royal Warrant of the 19th December, 1768.
[17] Previous to reviews at this period a set of movements were
fixed on by the Lord-Lieutenant, and ordered to be performed
in his presence; the movements of the First Horse on this
occasion were:--Salute--march past by squadrons--ditto by
fours--dismount--manual exercise--march past by divisions--ditto by
files--mount--cavalry evolutions--form line to the right twice--wheel
to the right about--form line to the left twice--wheel to the left
about--form two columns by quarter ranks from the centre of each
squadron--double up to half-ranks--form squadrons--file from the
right of fours--form squadrons--file from the left of fours--form
squadrons--by fours to the right about--file from the right of
fours--form to the rear--by fours to the right about--form four
squadrons--wheel the line--charge--retreat by files from the
right--form to the front--form two lines opposite, by squadrons
wheeling outwards--charge through the intervals--form two columns to
the rear by each line wheeling by squadrons inwards--squadrons wheel
to the front--form two squadrons--advance--form six squadrons--form
two columns on the centre squadrons--form line--charge--retreat by
three squadrons, the three others supporting--move to the right
to gain a flank--form and charge--form two squadrons--centre
troops advance and pursue--retire and form in the rear of their
own squadrons--charge--take ground to both flanks and rear by
fours--charge--retreat by fours--form line--advance--halt--general
salute.
[18]
'_Adjutant-General's Office, 19th April, 1788._
'Dear Sir,
'Having had the honour of laying yesterday before His Majesty your
request that the FOURTH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS, late the _First
Regiment of Horse_, under your command, might bear the title of ROYAL
IRISH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS, I have the pleasure to acquaint
you that His Majesty has been graciously pleased to grant his royal
permission for the same.
'I am, &c.
'WILLIAM FAWCETT, _Adjutant-General_.
'Lieut.-General George Warde,
Colonel of the Fourth Regt.
of Dragoon Guards.'
[19] In this attack Lord Mountjoy was killed. He was the second
nobleman of that name who fell while serving with this Regiment. See
the account of the battle of Steenkirk, in 1692, page 12.
[20] This eminence had been the scene of the most infamous and
inhuman proceedings. Here the hapless Protestants seized by the
rebels were taken and maliciously butchered, after a mock trial, and
often no trial at all: some were shot, others transfixed with pikes,
and many were barbarously tortured before their final execution.
It appears, from unquestionable authority, that upwards of 500
Protestants were murdered on this fatal hill; and the priests were
the instigators of these horrid religious massacres.
[21] When this part of the record was read to King William IV. at
the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, on the 9th day of November, 1835,
His Majesty observed:--'I recollect perfectly well inspecting the
squadron at Liverpool with the Duke of Gloucester, and I think
_they were the finest men and horses I ever saw_. In a short time
afterwards we went to see the regiment at Manchester, and were
equally pleased with the whole. It is a long time ago now, but the
circumstance is fresh in my memory.' His Majesty directed Colonel
Chatterton to make a note of this in the record.
[22] During this year, 1815, the white web pantaloons and Hessian
boots, were replaced by dark-coloured cloth overalls and short boots.
[23] Horse furniture was originally used by both officers and men of
the regiment, but it was discontinued in the early part of the reign
of George III.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF THE
FOURTH, OR ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS.
JAMES EARL OF ARRAN.
_Appointed 28th of July, 1685._
THE EARL OF ARRAN was the eldest son of Lord William Douglas, a
faithful supporter of the royal cause during the rebellion, who
was created Earl of Selkirk by King Charles I. in 1646, and having
married Anne Duchess of Hamilton, only surviving daughter of James
first Duke of Hamilton, was, in consequence of a petition from the
Duchess, created DUKE OF HAMILTON for life by King Charles II.
Shortly after the restoration the EARL OF ARRAN obtained an
appointment in the household of King Charles II.,[24] and after
remaining some time at court, he was sent with a congratulatory
communication to the French Monarch, and served two campaigns with
the French army in the capacity of aide-de-camp to Louis XIV. In
1685, when the Earl of Argyle raised the standard of rebellion
in Scotland, the EARL OF ARRAN took an active part against the
insurgents: he also raised a troop of horse for the service of
King James II., who appointed him Colonel of the SIXTH REGIMENT OF
HORSE, now FOURTH, OR ROYAL IRISH DRAGOON GUARDS. He was nominated
a Knight Companion of the Thistle, on the revival of that Order
in 1687, and in the following year he was promoted to the rank of
Brigadier-General, and appointed Colonel of the Royal Regiment of
Horse Guards. At the Revolution his conduct was remarkable for
the unshaken fidelity which he evinced to his sovereign under all
circumstances. When he could no longer serve the King in a military
capacity, he performed his duty as gentleman of the bed-chamber, and
attended His Majesty from the time of his departure from London to
the moment of his embarkation at Rochester; and at the meeting of the
Scottish nobility and gentry in London, in January, 1689, at which
the duke, his father, presided, he expressed himself in reply to
the request of the Prince of Orange for advice:--'The surest way to
heal the breach is to address His Majesty to return from France, and
call a free parliament. I can distinguish between his popery and his
person: I dislike the one; but I have sworn, and do owe, allegiance
to the other.' He had previously been removed from his regiment by
the Prince of Orange.
During the hostilities which followed the accession of William and
Mary, the EARL OF ARRAN did not appear in arms in favour of King
James; but he was suspected of corresponding with the court of
France, and was twice committed a prisoner to the Tower of London:
he was, however, discharged without being brought to trial. After
the decease of his father the dukedom of Hamilton reverted to his
mother, in whom it was hereditary; but she resigned that honour in
favour of his lordship, who was created DUKE OF HAMILTON, by patent,
dated the 10th of August, 1698. His grace adhered, privately, to the
interest of King James and the Pretender, until his decease, which
was tragical, being killed in a duel with Lord Mohun, who was also
slain at the same time in Hyde Park, on the 15th of November, 1712.
CHARLES EARL OF SELKIRK.
_Appointed 20th November, 1688._
LORD CHARLES HAMILTON, third son of William Duke of Hamilton, entered
the Life Guards in the year 1686, and obtained the appointment of
Guidon and Major in the fourth troop. He was advanced to the peerage
by the title of EARL OF SELKIRK, on his father's resignation of that
honour, in October, 1688; and adhering to King James II. at the
Revolution, was promoted to the Colonelcy of the SIXTH HORSE, in
succession to his brother the Earl of Arran; but was removed from
his regiment by the Prince of Orange, in December of the same year.
The EARL OF SELKIRK subsequently entered warmly into the protestant
interest, and held civil appointments under the crown in the reigns
of William III., George I., and George II.; and died on the 13th of
March, 1739.
CHARLES GODFREY.
_Appointed 31st December, 1688._
When the army was augmented in 1678, in the expectation of a war with
France, CHARLES GODFREY, Esq., obtained a commission in the Duke of
Monmouth's Regiment of Horse, which was disbanded in the following
year. He appears not to have held any military appointment from that
period until the revolution in 1688, when, being a strenuous advocate
of the protestant cause, he obtained, through the interest of John
Lord Churchill, the Colonelcy of the SIXTH HORSE.[25] After the Earl
of Marlborough had been sent prisoner to the Tower of London, on a
charge of treason, Colonel Godfrey was removed from his command; and
he did not afterwards serve in a military capacity. He was many
years Master of the Jewel House, and a Member of Parliament in the
reign of Queen Anne; and died in 1715.
FRANCIS LANGSTON.
_Appointed 7th March, 1693._
This officer served under his brother, Captain Thomas Langston, who
commanded a troop of horse at Tangier in Africa, and signalized
himself against the Moors. When the troops of Tangier Horse were
constituted Royal Dragoons, in 1683, FRANCIS LANGSTON obtained a
commission in that corps, and he served in the Royal Regiment of
Dragoons until December, 1688, when the Prince of Orange promoted
him to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the Eighth, or Princess Anne's
Regiment of Horse, of which his brother was appointed Colonel. He
proceeded with his regiment to Ireland in the same year; and his
brother Thomas dying in that country, he was appointed to succeed
him in the Colonelcy of the Eighth Horse. He served at the head of
his regiment at the battles of the Boyne and Aghrim, and in numerous
skirmishes, until the final reduction of Ireland under the dominion
of William III. His services were immediately afterwards transferred
to the Netherlands; and his regiment having suffered severely, from
having been long exposed to a furious cannonade at the battle of
Steenkirk, it was disbanded, and Colonel Langston was appointed to
the command of the FIFTH HORSE, now FOURTH DRAGOON GUARDS. At the
battle of _Landen_ this officer highly distinguished himself at the
head of the right squadron of his regiment, and was wounded and taken
prisoner. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General on the 1st
of June, 1697; and proceeding, after the peace of Ryswick, with his
regiment to Ireland, he was placed on the staff of the army in that
country.
During the wars in the reign of Queen Anne this officer was not
employed on foreign service, but was continued on the staff of
Ireland. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General on the 1st of
June, 1703, and to that of Lieutenant-General on the 1st of June,
1704.
When the great Duke of Marlborough was removed from his military
commands, Lieutenant-General Langston appears to have been considered
too firmly devoted to the protestant cause, and to the succession of
the House of Hanover, for the new ministry to confide in him, and he
retired from the army. This veteran died on the 6th of April, 1723.
GEORGE JOCELYN.
_Appointed 20th October, 1713._
This officer obtained the commission of Cornet in _the Queen
Dowager's_ Regiment of Horse, commanded by George Viscount Hewyt
(now Sixth Dragoon Guards) in 1689, and served at the battle of
the Boyne under King William III. On the 5th of May, 1690, he was
engaged in a gallant affair with the enemy near Castle Cuff, and
was wounded.[26] He also served at the battle of Aghrim, and siege
of Limerick; and in 1693 at the hard-contested battle of Landen.
After the peace of Ryswick he entered the corps of Life Guards, and
rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Troop (now
Second Regiment), commanded by the Duke of Ormond. On the 29th of
May, 1706, he obtained the rank of Colonel in the army, and on the
12th of February, 1711, that of Brigadier-General. After the Duke of
Ormond was promoted to the elevated station of Captain-General of the
Forces, Brigadier-General Jocelyn obtained the Colonelcy of the FIFTH
HORSE; and when his Grace was removed from the command of the army by
King George I., this officer obtained permission to dispose of his
appointment: he died on the 9th of November, 1727.
SHERRINGTON DAVENPORT.
_Appointed 9th February, 1715._
SHERRINGTON DAVENPORT was appointed Adjutant of the Queen Dowager's
Regiment of Horse in 1687; and after serving at the battles of the
Boyne and Aghrim, and at both sieges of Limerick, in Ireland; and
at the battle of Landen, and covering the siege of Namur in the
Netherlands, he was promoted to the Majority of the regiment on
the 13th of August, 1696. He subsequently obtained a commission
in the First Troop (now First Regiment) of Life Guards, in which
corps he obtained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was appointed
Brigadier-General in 1707, and Major-General in 1710; and being
firmly devoted to the protestant interest, he was permitted, soon
after the arrival of King George I. from Hanover, to purchase the
Colonelcy of the FIFTH HORSE, which he retained until his decease on
the 2nd of July, 1719.
OWEN WYNNE.
_Appointed 6th July, 1719._
OWEN WYNNE entered the army on the 8th of March, 1688. After the
Revolution he proceeded to Ireland, of which country he was a native,
and he was engaged with the Enniskillen men in their determined
resistance to the power of King James II. When the Enniskillen
bands were incorporated into regiments, he obtained a commission in
Wynne's (afterwards Fifth or Royal Irish) Dragoons. With this corps
he served in numerous skirmishes and engagements until after the
reduction of the whole of Ireland under the power of King William
III. He also served under the King in Flanders, and was appointed
Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment on the 20th of July, 1695. He
was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1703, and was commissioned,
in 1705, to raise and discipline a regiment of foot, of which he
was appointed Colonel. In 1706 he was promoted to the rank of
Brigadier-General, and on the 1st of January, 1709, to that of
Major-General. His regiment of foot served the campaigns of 1710
and 1711 under the great Duke of Marlborough, and that of 1712
under the Duke of Ormond, and was disbanded after the conclusion
of the peace of Utrecht; but in 1715, when Jacobite principles
had become so prevalent in the nation that an insurrection was
expected, a regiment of dragoons (now the Ninth Lancers) was raised,
of which Major-General Owen Wynne was appointed Colonel; and he
was instrumental in suppressing the rebellion which broke out in
the autumn of that year in favour of the Pretender. In 1719 he was
removed to the Colonelcy of the FIFTH HORSE; and on the 10th of
March, 1726, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General. He
was removed to the Colonelcy of the Royal Irish Dragoons, in which
corps he had performed his early services, in August, 1732; and he
held the command of that regiment until his decease on the 28th of
February, 1737.
THOMAS PEARCE.
_Appointed 27th September, 1732._
THOMAS PEARCE, choosing the profession of arms, obtained the
commission of Ensign on the 28th of February, 1689, and after serving
three campaigns in the Netherlands, he was appointed Captain of the
Grenadier company in the Second Foot Guards in October, 1694. In the
following summer he served at the siege of Namur, and was engaged
on the night of the 8th of July in storming the covered way, when,
led by his innate ardour, he advanced too far in front of his men,
and was wounded and taken prisoner. He served in the expedition to
Cadiz in 1702, and commanded the first division of Grenadiers, which
effected a landing between Rota and Fort St. Catherine. Himself and
eight men only had landed, when they were charged by a troop of
Spanish horse. The grenadiers fought manfully, slew the Spanish
commanding officer and five men, took two officers prisoners, and
forced the remainder to retreat: he afterwards summoned the Fort
of St. Catherine, which surrendered: he also commanded a party of
grenadiers at the storming of the Forts of Vigo, and was wounded.
His gallantry was rewarded, in April of the following year, with
the Colonelcy of a newly-raised regiment of foot, from which he
was removed in February, 1704, to an older corps--now the Fifth or
Northumberland Fusiliers. In 1707, he proceeded with his regiment
to Portugal; and in 1709 highly distinguished himself at the head
of a brigade of infantry at the battle of the Caya, where he was
taken prisoner. After being exchanged he was promoted to the rank
of Major-General, and returning to Portugal, commanded a brigade in
that country until the peace of Utrecht. On the 5th of March, 1727,
he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General, and in 1732 he
was removed to the FIFTH HORSE. He was a member of Parliament for
Melcombe Regis, and died in 1739.
JAMES LORD TYRAWLEY.
_Appointed 26th August, 1739._
The HON. JAMES O'HARA was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment
of Fusiliers, commanded by his father, on the 15th of March,
1703; and in 1706 he proceeded with his regiment to the relief of
Barcelona. In the following year he served on the staff of the army
in Spain, and was wounded at the battle of Almanza, where, it is
said, he was instrumental in saving the Earl of Galway's life. He
served several years at Minorca; and in 1713 obtained the Colonelcy
of the Royal Fusiliers, in succession to his father, at whose
decease, in 1733, he succeeded to the dignity of BARON TYRAWLEY. The
rank of Brigadier-General was conferred on his lordship on the 23rd
of November, 1735; that of Major-General on the 2nd of July, 1739;
and in August of the latter year, he was removed from the Royal
Fusiliers to the FIFTH HORSE. In March, 1743, he was promoted to the
rank of Lieutenant-General; and in the following month obtained the
Colonelcy of the Second Troop of Horse Grenadier Guards, from which
he was removed, in 1745, to the Third Troop of Life Guards, which
gave him the privilege of taking the court duty of gold stick. In
1746, when King George II. had resolved to disband the Third and
Fourth Troops of Life Guards, his lordship was removed to the Tenth
Foot; he was again removed, in 1749, to the Fourteenth Dragoons;
in 1752, to the Third Dragoons; and in 1755, to the Second, or
Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards. He was appointed Governor of
Portsmouth on the 1st of May, 1759, and was promoted to the rank
of General on the 7th of March, 1761. He held the appointment
of Governor of Minorca for several years; was employed as Envoy
and Ambassador to the courts of Portugal and Russia; and died at
Twickenham on the 13th of July, 1773.
JOHN BROWN.
_Appointed 1st April, 1743._
This officer entered the army as Cornet of horse on the 5th of
August, 1704, and served several campaigns on the continent in
the army commanded by John Duke of Marlborough. In 1735 he was
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourth Dragoons, from whence he was removed
to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the King's Horse (now First Dragoon
Guards); and on the 10th of May, 1742, he was appointed Colonel
of the Ninth Dragoons. On the appointment of Lieutenant-General
Lord Tyrawley to the Horse Grenadier Guards, the Colonelcy of the
FIFTH HORSE was conferred on Colonel Brown, who was promoted to the
rank of Major-General on the 26th of March, 1754, and to that of
Lieutenant-General on the 15th of January, 1758: he died in 1762.
JAMES JOHNSTON.
_Appointed 3rd August, 1762._
JAMES JOHNSTON obtained a commission in the Royal Horse Guards,
was at the battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy, and was appointed
Major of the regiment on the 29th of November, 1750. On the 17th of
December, 1754, he was promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy; and he
commanded the regiment at several engagements in Germany during the
Seven-years' war. In 1762 he obtained the Colonelcy of the FIRST
IRISH HORSE, now FOURTH DRAGOON GUARDS; was appointed Major-General
on the 30th of April, 1770; and on the 27th of April, 1775, was
removed to the Colonelcy of the 11th Dragoons. He was promoted to
the rank of Lieutenant-General on the 29th of August, 1777; and
was removed to the Scots Greys on the 4th of February, 1785, the
Colonelcy of which regiment he retained until his decease on the 24th
of December, 1795.
JAMES JOHNSTON.
_Appointed 27th April, 1775._
This officer was cousin to the previous Colonel of the same name.
He obtained the commission of Cornet in the Thirteenth Dragoons on
the 5th of October, 1736, and was removed to the Royal Dragoons in
1739, in which corps he rose to the rank of Major, and was promoted
to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the Thirteenth Dragoons on the 2nd
of December, 1754. In April, 1759, he was reappointed to the First
Royal Dragoons, and proceeding in command of the regiment to Germany,
served in the battles and skirmishes of that and the two succeeding
campaigns under Ferdinand Duke of Brunswick. He particularly
distinguished himself at the battle of Warbourg, and was wounded
at the battle of Campen. In 1762 he was promoted to the local rank
of Major-General in Germany; and he commanded a brigade of cavalry
during the campaign of that year. He was distinguished alike for
the sterner military virtues,--for a gentlemanly deportment,--and
an amiable disposition, which procured him the esteem of all ranks;
and on the breaking up of the army on the continent he received
a flattering mark of the approbation of the hereditary Prince of
Brunswick,[27]--namely, a valuable gold snuff-box, embellished with
highly-chased military trophies, accompanied by an autograph letter,
of which the following is a copy:--
"Munden, ce 17 de Nov. 1762.
"Monsieur,
"Vous m'obligerez sensiblement, en acceptant la babiole que je
joins ici comme une marque de l'estime, et de la consideration
parfaite que je vous porte, et comme un souvenir d'un ami qui
jamais ne finèra d'etre.
"Monsieur,
"Votre très humble et très devoué serviteur,
"CHARLES, Pr. Her. de B."
"A Monsieur
"Le Col. Johnston."
He was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the island of Minorca in
1763, and was promoted to the rank of Major-General in 1770. In
the following year this meritorious officer was rewarded with the
Colonelcy of the Ninth Dragoons; in 1774 he was constituted Governor
of Quebec; and in 1775 he obtained the Colonelcy of the FIRST IRISH
HORSE (now FOURTH DRAGOON GUARDS). Two years afterwards he was
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General; in 1778 he was removed
from the FIRST IRISH HORSE to the Sixth Enniskillen Dragoons; and was
further promoted to the rank of General in 1793: he is stated to have
been one of the most celebrated swordsmen of his time. The decease of
this distinguished veteran occurred on the 13th of December, 1797, at
Hampton, from whence he was removed with great state for interment in
Westminster Abbey on the 21st of that month.
GEORGE WARDE.
_Appointed 1st April, 1778._