troops employed during the early part of the American war, which
commenced in 1775.
The next important service on which the EIGHTEENTH, ROYAL
IRISH, regiment was engaged, was the ever-memorable campaign of
the British army in Egypt, which succeeded in repelling from
that country the French army, which had vainly styled itself
"invincible," and through the efforts of which Napoleon Bonaparte
intended to open a route to India, and thereby disturb, if not
annihilate, the British possessions in Asia.
After returning from Egypt, the services of this valuable regiment
were employed in guarding the colonial possessions in the West
Indies for a period of twelve years, during which the British army
acquired additional honours and distinctions by its services in the
Peninsula, which terminated in 1814, and afterwards by the decisive
battle and overthrow of the French army at Waterloo.
The EIGHTEENTH was employed on garrison duty from 1821 to 1832 in
the islands of the Mediterranean.
In 1837 the regiment was embarked for Ceylon, and in 1840 it formed
part of the expedition to the Chinese seas, and by its gallantry
eventually compelled the government of the "_Celestial empire_" to
cede a portion of territory to the British Crown, and to pay an
indemnity for losses sustained: the word _China_ and the device of
the _Dragon_, authorized by Her Majesty to be borne on the colours
and appointments of the regiment, are proud memorials of its
services in this distant scene of warfare, which was a novel arena,
not only to the EIGHTEENTH, but to European troops generally. The
regiment was again employed during the military operations on the
Canton river in 1847, and towards the close of that year proceeded
to the East Indies.
After a service of twelve years in the eastern parts of the world,
the EIGHTEENTH, ROYAL IRISH, regiment has received instructions to
be prepared to return to its native country, on being relieved by
the _ninety-sixth_ regiment from the New South Wales Colony.
In drawing this summary, the compiler could not conclude the record
of the arduous services of so meritorious a regiment, without an
endeavour to do justice to its loyalty and devotedness to ten
successive sovereigns, and to its zeal and usefulness in the cause
of its country, during a period of one hundred and sixty-five years.
1848.
[Illustration: EIGHTEENTH,
ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT.
_Madeley lith 3 Wellington S^t Strand_
FOR CANNON'S MILITARY RECORDS.]
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF THE
EIGHTEENTH,
OR THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
ARTHUR VISCOUNT OF GRANARD.
_Appointed 1st April, 1684._
ARTHUR FORBES, son of Sir Patrick Forbes, a Baronet of Nova Scotia,
was a cavalry officer in the Royal army during the rebellion in
the reign of King Charles I., and attained the rank of Colonel
in 1646. In 1651 he held a considerable command in the north of
Scotland, and after the defeat of the Scots army at Worcester on
the 3rd of September, 1651, Colonel Forbes opposed the progress
of the English under General Monk, afterwards Duke of Albemarle,
but was eventually defeated, and fled to Ireland, where he was
permitted by Oliver Cromwell to possess his paternal estate. He
took an active part in bringing about the Restoration in 1660, and
was appointed one of the commissioners of the Court of Claims in
Ireland: he was also nominated captain of an independent troop of
horse, and elected a member of Parliament for Mullingar. He took an
active part in preventing the breaking out of a conspiracy against
the government in Ireland, in 1663; in 1670 he was sworn a member
of the Privy Council, and nominated Marshal of the army,--a rank
not continued in the service; and in 1671 he was constituted one
of the Lords Justices of Ireland. His services were rewarded, in
1675, with the dignity of Baron Clanehugh, and VISCOUNT OF GRANARD;
and in April, 1684, his Lordship was nominated Colonel of one of
the regiments, formed of independent companies in Ireland, at
that period, now the EIGHTEENTH, or the ROYAL IRISH regiment. In
September following he was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-General,
and two months afterwards he was advanced to the dignity of EARL
OF GRANARD. In March, 1685, King James II. nominated the EARL OF
GRANARD one of the Lords Justices of the kingdom, and he was also
appointed Chairman of the Council; in 1686 his Lordship resigned
the colonelcy of the regiment in favour of his son, Arthur Lord
Forbes. Being pressed upon to proceed with unusual severity against
the Protestants, he wrote to the King for permission to resign;
but His Majesty wrote an answer with his own hand, requesting him
to continue in office: he, however, advocated the cause of the
Protestants with so much warmth, that he was dismissed by King
James in March, 1689. The Earl of Granard attached himself to the
interests of King William III. He was sworn of the Privy Council
in December, 1690; and he commanded the troops at the reduction of
Sligo, in 1691.
The Earl of Granard built the Church of Castle-Forbes, and
established the linen manufactory at that place. He died in 1694.
ARTHUR LORD FORBES.
_Appointed 1st March, 1686._
ARTHUR LORD FORBES, son of the Earl of Granard, held a commission
in the army in Ireland in the reign of King Charles II., and in
1686 he succeeded his father in the colonelcy of the regiment
which is now the EIGHTEENTH, or the ROYAL IRISH regiment. He
was a spirited young nobleman, and succeeded in retaining more
Protestants in his regiment than were to be found in any other
corps in the army in Ireland. He joined the Prince of Orange at the
Revolution in 1688, when he withdrew from the service. He succeeded
to the dignity of EARL OF GRANARD on the decease of his father in
1694. He died in August, 1734.
SIR JOHN EDGEWORTH.
_Appointed 31st December, 1688._
This officer held a commission in the army in the reign of King
Charles II., and was appointed Captain of a non-regimented company
of pikemen and musketeers in Ireland. He was afterwards promoted
to the Majority of the Earl of Granard's regiment, now EIGHTEENTH,
which corps he accompanied to England at the Revolution in 1688,
when he joined the Prince of Orange's interest, and was promoted
to the Colonelcy of his regiment. Being afterwards found guilty
of irregularity in providing clothing for his regiment, he was
dismissed the service.
EDWARD EARL OF MEATH.
_Appointed 1st May, 1689._
The Honourable EDWARD BRABAZON, second son of Edward, second
Earl of Meath, was appointed Captain of a non-regimented company
of pikemen and musketeers in the summer of 1661, and he was
afterwards nominated keeper of the royal parks in Ireland, and
ranger of Phœnix Park, near Dublin. He subsequently commanded
a troop of cuirassiers; but falling under the displeasure of
the lord-lieutenant, the Earl of Essex, he was removed from his
appointments: he was, however, restored to favour at a subsequent
period. In 1684 he succeeded, on the death of his brother, to the
dignity of EARL OF MEATH. He joined the Prince of Orange at the
Revolution of 1688, and in May, 1689, he was appointed Colonel of
the EIGHTEENTH regiment, which corps he accompanied to Ireland,
and served at the siege of Carrickfergus and at the battle of the
Boyne; he also evinced great gallantry at the siege of Limerick,
where he was wounded. He was sworn a member of the Privy Council
in December, 1690. After the deliverance of Ireland from the power
of King James was accomplished, he chose to remain in that country
in order to devote himself to its interests, and withdrew from the
army. He died in 1708.
FREDERICK HAMILTON.
_Appointed 19th December, 1692._
FREDERICK HAMILTON rose to the command of one of the independent
companies in Ireland in the reign of King Charles II., and in 1684
his company was incorporated in Lord Mountjoy's regiment. Being a
zealous Protestant, Captain Hamilton was deprived of his commission
by Earl Tyrconnel, and remained unemployed until the Revolution of
1688, when King William III. gave him a company in Lord Forbes's,
now the EIGHTEENTH foot, and promoted him to the Majority of the
regiment. He accompanied the EIGHTEENTH to Ireland, served at
the siege of Carrickfergus, the battle of the Boyne, and at the
storming of Limerick, where he distinguished himself, and was
promoted to the Lieut.-Colonelcy of the regiment, in succession to
Lieut.-Colonel Newcomb, who was mortally wounded. He served at the
siege of Athlone, and at the battle of Aghrim, in 1691; also at the
second siege of Limerick: and in 1692 he commanded the regiment
in the expedition under Meinhardt Duke of Leinster; in December
of the same year he succeeded the Earl of Meath in the Colonelcy
of the EIGHTEENTH regiment. He served the campaign of 1694 under
King William, and in 1695 he distinguished himself at the siege of
Namur, and was wounded at the assault of the Castle. In May, 1702,
he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, and the four
regiments under his command were engaged in the sieges of Venloo
and Ruremonde. He also commanded a brigade during the campaign
of 1703; was promoted to the rank of Major-General on the 1st of
February, 1704, and served the campaign of that year in Germany,
taking part in gaining the victories at Schellenberg and Blenheim.
Having become advanced in years and infirm, he retired from the
service in 1705, Queen Anne giving him permission to sell the
colonelcy of his regiment to Lieut.-General Ingoldsby.
RICHARD INGOLDSBY.
_Appointed 1st April, 1705._
RICHARD INGOLDSBY entered the army in the reign of King Charles
II., his first commission being dated the 13th of June, 1667. He
adhered to the Protestant interest at the Revolution in 1688, and
served under King William III., who promoted him to the Colonelcy
of the Twenty-third Regiment in February, 1693. He commanded the
Twenty-third at the siege of Namur, in 1695, and in June, 1696,
he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. On the breaking
out of the war in 1701, he was sent to Holland with a body of
British troops, and he highly distinguished himself during several
campaigns under the great Duke of Marlborough. He was promoted to
the rank of Major-General on the 9th of March, 1702, and served in
that capacity during the campaigns of that and the following year.
In January, 1704, he was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-General,
and his name is found among the officers who distinguished
themselves at the battles of Schellenberg and Blenheim. After
acquiring a high reputation in the field, he was honoured with the
appointments of one of Her Majesty's Lords Justices, and Master of
the Horse for Ireland. He died on the 29th of January, 1712.
RICHARD STEARNE.
_Appointed 18th February, 1712._
This officer commences a journal of his services in the following
words:--"In the year 1678 I got a commission from King Charles II.
to be Ensign to Captain John St. Ledger's company, then one of
the independent companies of Ireland; and in the following year I
was made Lieutenant to the same company. In the year 1684 all the
independent troops and companies in Ireland were incorporated into
regiments; Captain St. Ledger's company being one of those that
composed the regiment commanded by the Earl of Granard"--now the
EIGHTEENTH, or ROYAL IRISH regiment of foot. He accompanied his
regiment to England at the Revolution in 1688, and on the 1st of
March, 1689, he was appointed Captain of the company to which he
belonged. He served with his regiment in Ireland, at the siege of
Carrickfergus, the battle of the Boyne, the sieges of Limerick and
Athlone, the battle of Aghrim, and the second siege of Limerick,
besides several detached services. In 1692 he was promoted to the
majority of his regiment. He served in the expedition under the
Duke of Leinster; and afterwards joining the army in Flanders, was
at the siege of Namur, where his regiment distinguished itself and
acquired the title of the ROYAL IRISH regiment: Lieut.-Colonel
Ormsby being killed on this occasion, King William promoted Major
STEARNE to the lieut.-colonelcy of the regiment. He served in the
Netherlands and Germany during the whole of the wars of Queen
Anne, was at the battles of Schellenberg, Blenheim, Ramilies,
Oudenarde, and Malplaquet, and also at the forcing of the French
lines in 1705, 1710, and 1711, and took part in numerous sieges,
at which the EIGHTEENTH distinguished themselves. Lieut.-Colonel
Stearne was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1707, and to that
of Brigadier-General in 1711; in 1712 he was rewarded with the
colonelcy of his regiment; he was also nominated Governor of the
Royal Hospital at Dublin. He concludes the journal of his numerous,
distinguished, and meritorious services in the following words:--
"In the month of May, 1717, the regiment received orders to
march to Portsmouth, and there I take my leave of them, for, in
the month of January following, His Majesty gave me leave to
resign my regiment to Colonel William Cosby, after having served
six crowned heads of England, and been forty years attached to
one company without ever being removed from it; having made
twenty-one campaigns; having been in seven field-battles--fifteen
sieges--seven grand attacks on counterscarps and breaches--two
remarkable retreats--at the passing of four of the enemy's
lines--besides several other petty actions; and, through God's
assistance, never had one drop of blood drawn from me in all
those actions. After I had disposed of my regiment, I went to my
government in Ireland." Brigadier-General Stearne died on the 1st
of November, 1732.
WILLIAM COSBY.
_Appointed 24th December, 1717._
WILLIAM COSBY was many years an officer in the cavalry of the royal
household, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant and Lieut.-Colonel
of the first troop, now first regiment, of life guards; from
which he was promoted, in December, 1717, to the colonelcy of
the EIGHTEENTH, or the ROYAL IRISH regiment. He accompanied the
EIGHTEENTH to Minorca, and commanded a detachment of five hundred
men sent from that island to Gibraltar, when the Spaniards besieged
that fortress in 1727. He was subsequently nominated Governor
of the Leeward Islands, and in January, 1732, he was appointed
Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of New York and New Jersey,
when he relinquished the colonelcy of his regiment. In 1735 he was
promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. He died on the 2nd of
May, 1737.
SIR CHARLES HOTHAM, BART.
_Appointed 7th January, 1732._
CHARLES HOTHAM entered the army in the reign of Queen Anne, and
served on the Continent under the great Duke of Marlborough. In
1723 he succeeded to the dignity of a Baronet. He was nominated to
the colonelcy of the EIGHTEENTH, or the ROYAL IRISH regiment, in
1732, and removed to the second troop of horse grenadier guards in
1735. He died in 1738.
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
_Appointed 13th May, 1735._
This officer entered the army in 1704, and served with
reputation under the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough. After
distinguishing himself on several occasions he was promoted to
the lieut.-colonelcy of the fifteenth regiment, and was promoted
to the rank of Colonel in December, 1712. In 1717 he obtained
the colonelcy of a newly-raised regiment, which was disbanded in
the following year. He was rewarded with the colonelcy of the
EIGHTEENTH, and promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, in 1735,
and in 1739 he was advanced to the rank of Major-General. He died
on the 15th of April, 1742.
SIR JOHN MORDAUNT, K.B.
_Appointed 18th December, 1742._
On the 25th of August, 1721, this officer entered the army, and
after a progressive service of several years he rose to the rank
of Captain and Lieut.-Colonel in the third foot guards, from
which he was promoted to the colonelcy of a newly-raised corps,
now forty-seventh, in 1741, and was removed to the EIGHTEENTH
regiment in the following year. Having been promoted to the
rank of Brigadier-General in June, 1745, he commanded a brigade
against the rebel army, and distinguished himself, at the battle
of Falkirk, on the 17th of January, 1746. He afterwards served
under His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and was detached
with two regiments of dragoons and the Campbell Highlanders in
pursuit of the rebels on their retreat from Stirling. At the
decisive battle of Culloden he commanded a brigade of infantry,
and gained additional reputation; and afterwards proceeding to the
Netherlands, he distinguished himself at the head of a brigade at
the battle of Val, in 1747. In the autumn of the same year he was
promoted to the rank of Major-General; he was afterwards removed
to the twelfth dragoons, and in July, 1749, to the fourth horse,
now seventh dragoon guards; in November following he was removed to
the tenth dragoons. He was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-General
in 1754, and to that of General in 1770. His services were also
rewarded with the dignity of Knight of the Most Honourable Military
Order of the Bath, and the government of Berwick. He died in
October, 1780.
JOHN FOLLIOTT.
_Appointed 22nd December, 1747._
After serving with reputation in the subordinate commissions, this
officer was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy of the seventh horse,
now sixth dragoon guards, in June, 1737, and his constant attention
to all the duties of commanding officer of that distinguished corps
was rewarded, in June, 1743, with the colonelcy of the sixty-second
regiment (afterwards disbanded); from which he was removed, in
1747, to the ROYAL IRISH regiment. He was promoted to the rank of
Major-General in 1754, and to that of Lieut.-General in 1758; he
was also nominated Governor of Ross Castle. He died in January,
1762, at which period he was Member of Parliament for Sligo.
SIR JOHN SEBRIGHT, BART.
_Appointed 1st April, 1762._
JOHN SEBRIGHT was many years an officer in the first foot guards,
in which corps he was promoted to the rank of Captain and
Lieut.-Colonel on the 2nd of May, 1749; and in October, 1758, he
was nominated to the colonelcy of the eighty-third foot. In 1761
he was promoted to the rank of Major-General; and was removed to
the ROYAL IRISH regiment in the following year. On the decease of
his brother in 1765, he succeeded to the dignity of BARONET. He
was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-General in 1770, and to that of
General in 1782. His decease occurred on the 23rd of February, 1794.
SIR JAMES MURRAY, BART.
_Appointed 26th February, 1794._
JAMES MURRAY served in the army in the Seven Years' War, and was
appointed Major in the ninety-seventh foot in April 1762: in the
following year his regiment was disbanded. In 1771 he succeeded,
on the decease of his father, to the dignity of BARONET. He was
promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel in 1772; and served with
reputation in the American war, particularly at the defence of
St. Christopher. In 1789 he was honoured with the appointment of
Aide-de-camp to the King, with the rank of Colonel; and in 1793 he
was appointed Adjutant-General to the army in Flanders, commanded
by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, and promoted to the rank of
Major-General; and while employed on the Staff in Flanders he was
nominated Colonel of the EIGHTEENTH regiment, his commission being
dated the 26th of February, 1794. Having married the Countess of
Bath, he assumed the surname and arms of PULTENEY. In the summer
of 1800 he commanded an expedition against the fortress of Ferrol,
in Spain; after viewing the town and defences he resolved not to
lose time in attacking this place, but to join the armament under
Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby. In 1807 he was nominated
Secretary at War, and held that appointment two years: in 1808 he
was promoted to the rank of General. His decease occurred on the
26th of April, 1811, and was occasioned by an injury received from
the explosion of a powder-flask while shooting on his estate at
Buckenham, in Norfolk.
JOHN H. LORD HUTCHINSON, K.B.
_Appointed 27th April, 1811._
The Honourable JOHN HELY HUTCHINSON entered the army in January,
1774, as Cornet in the eighteenth light dragoons, and in October,
1776, he was promoted Captain of a company in the sixty-seventh
regiment: in 1777 he was elected a Member of Parliament for
Cork. On the 21st of September, 1781, he was advanced to Major
in the seventy-seventh, or Atholl Highlanders, in which corps
he rose to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel in 1783; but his regiment
was disbanded soon after the termination of the American war.
Having previously studied tactics at Strasburg, he again visited
the Continent, and acquired additional information on military
subjects. Soon after the commencement of the French revolutionary
war he returned to the United Kingdom; was promoted to the rank
of Colonel on the 1st of March, 1794; and, taking great interest
in raising the ninety-fourth regiment, he was appointed Colonel
of that corps in October. He served two campaigns in Flanders, as
extra Aide-de-camp to Sir Ralph Abercromby. He was promoted to
the rank of Major-General in 1796; and, serving in Ireland during
the rebellion in 1798, he was second in command at the action at
Castlebar. He also served in the expedition to Holland in 1799,
and honourable mention is made of his gallant conduct in the public
despatches. Having given proof of his capabilities as a General
officer, he was nominated second in command in the expedition to
Egypt, under Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby; and after the
death of that officer, from wounds received in the action of the
21st of March, the command of the troops devolved on Major-General
Hutchinson, who found himself suddenly placed at the head of the
army under circumstances of a peculiarly difficult character. In
the subsequent operations in Egypt he evinced talent and energy,
sustaining the honour of his Sovereign, promoting the glory of his
country, and forcing the French "Army of the East" to evacuate
Egypt. For his services in this enterprise he twice received the
thanks of both Houses of Parliament; he gained the approbation
of his Sovereign, was nominated a Knight of the Bath, received
the Order of the Crescent from the Grand Seignior, was elevated
to the peerage by the title of BARON HUTCHINSON OF ALEXANDRIA
and of Knocklofty in the county of Tipperary, and received an
important addition to his income: he was also nominated Governor of
Stirling Castle. In 1803 his Lordship was promoted to the rank of
Lieut.-General.
The subsequent services of Lord Hutchinson were of a diplomatic
character: in November, 1806, he proceeded on an extraordinary
mission to the Prussian and Russian armies; and he afterwards
proceeded to the court of St. Petersburg. In 1806 he was nominated
to the colonelcy of the fifty-seventh regiment, and was removed,
in 1811, to the ROYAL IRISH regiment: in 1813 he was promoted to
the rank of General. On the decease of his brother, in 1825, he
succeeded to the title of EARL OF DONOUGHMORE. He died on the 6th
of July, 1832.
MATTHEW LORD AYLMER.
_Appointed 23rd July, 1832._
THE END.
London: Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street, For
Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
FOOTNOTES:
[6] This regiment has furnished several historians of its early
services. The first is General Richard Stearne, who was nominated
ensign of one of the independent companies in 1678, and colonel of
the regiment in 1712: his narrative comprises a period of forty-one
years,--viz. from 1678 to 1719, and is continued by an officer of
the regiment to 1759: this work is in manuscript. The journal of
Captain Parker, who entered the regiment as private in 1689, rose
to the rank of captain, and retired in 1718, embraces the services
of the regiment during that period, and was afterwards published
by his son. General Richard Kane, who was many years an officer of
the regiment, gives an account of its services, in the wars of King
William III. and of Queen Anne, in a work on military discipline.
Private Millner also published a journal of the campaigns from 1701
to 1712. No other regiment has produced so many historians of its
services.
[7] Smollett.