Thomas Bligh: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Irish soldier}} |
{{short description|Irish soldier}} |
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{{about||his father, the Irish politician|Thomas Bligh (1654–1710)|the Anglo-Irish Whig politician|Thomas Cherburgh Bligh}} |
{{about||his father, the Irish politician|Thomas Bligh (1654–1710)|the Anglo-Irish Whig politician|Thomas Cherburgh Bligh}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}{{Infobox military person |
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| name = Thomas Bligh |
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| ⚫ | Lieutenant General '''Thomas Bligh''' ( |
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| birth_date = 1685 |
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| death_date = {{Death year and age|1775|1685}} |
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| placeofburial = [[Athboy]], [[County Meath|Meath]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] |
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| allegiance = [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] |
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| serviceyears = 1740-1758 |
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| battles = {{plainlist| |
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[[War of the Austrian Succession]] |
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:[[Battle of Melle]] |
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[[7 Years War]] |
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:[[Raid on Cherbourg]] |
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:[[Battle of Saint-Cast]] |
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}} |
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}} |
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| ⚫ | Lieutenant General '''Thomas Bligh''' (1685 – 1775) was an [[Kingdom of Ireland|Irish]]-born [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] soldier, best known for his service during the [[Seven Years' War]] when he led a series of amphibious raids, known as "[[Naval Descents|descents]]" on the French coastline. Despite initial success in these operations, they came to an end following the disastrous [[Battle of Saint Cast|Battle of St Cast]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/vol7peerageofeng00coll|title=Vol. 7: The peerage of England : containing a genealogical and historical account of all the peers of that kingdom, now existing, either by tenure, summons, or creation, their descents and collateral lines, their births, marriages and issues, famous actions both in war and peaces, religious and charitable donations, deaths, places of burial, monuments, epitaphs, and many valuable memoirs never before printed : also their paternal coats of arms, crests, supporters and mottoes, curiously engraved on copper-plates / collected from records, old wills, authentic manuscripts, our most approved historians, and other authorities, which are cited by Arthur Collins, esq. ; in eight volumes|first=Arthur|last=Collins|date=5 February 1779|publisher=Printed for W. Strahan, J.F. and C. Rivington, J. Hinton, T. Payne, W. Owen, S. Crowder, T. Caslon, T. Longman, C. Rivington, C. Dilly, J. Robson, T. Lowndes, G. Robinson, T. Cadell, H.L. Gardner, W. Davis, J. Nichols, T. Evans, J. Bew, R. Baldwin, J. Almon, J. Murray, W. Fox, J. White, Fielding and Walker, T. Beecroft, J. Donaldson, M. Folingsby|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Bligh was born in 1685, the son of Irish politician, [[Thomas Bligh (1654–1710)|Thomas Bligh]] and his wife Elizabeth née Napier. During his long service in the British army, he rose to the rank of [[Lieutenant General]]. In 1745, during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]], as a Brigadier, he took over command of allied troops at the [[ |
Bligh was born in 1685, the son of Irish politician, [[Thomas Bligh (1654–1710)|Thomas Bligh]] and his wife Elizabeth née Napier. During his long service in the British army, he rose to the rank of [[Lieutenant General]]. In 1745, during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]], as a Brigadier, he took over command of allied troops at the [[Battle of Melle]] and led part of the defeated force to safety. He fought at Dettingen, Val, Fontneay, and Melle. He was also commander of the British troops at Cherbourg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Emw9AQAAMAAJ&q=rathmore+parish++%22thomas+bligh%22&pg=PA120|title=The Peerage of Ireland, Or, A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom: With Their Paternal Coats of Arms, Engraven on Copper : Collected from the Publick Records; Authentic Manuscripts; Approved Historians; Well-attested Pedigrees; and Personal Information|first=John|last=Lodge|date=5 February 1754|publisher=William Johnston, bookseller, in St. Paul's Church-Yard|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/R/Rathmore-Lune-Meath.php|title=Rathmore (Meath) – Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)|website=www.libraryireland.com}}</ref> In 1758, he was appointed to command the descents, at the age of seventy-three. He led an initial successful [[Raid on Cherbourg]] in August 1758, capturing and destroying the town's fortifications. He then re-embarked and moved along the coast to [[St Malo]]. Confronted with adverse weather conditions, they were able only to land some of their force, which was soon confronted by a larger French force with had hurriedly marched there from [[Brest, France|Brest]]. In the scramble to get his men back onto the ships, Bligh fought a confused rearguard action, the [[Battle of Saint Cast]] suffering between 750 and 1,000 casualties before he was finally able to re-embark his men. They then sailed for England.<ref>Anderson p.302-03</ref> |
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Bligh was poorly treated when he returned home. King [[George II of Great Britain|George II]] refused to receive him, considered an enormous slight, and he came under fierce criticism from all sides.<ref>Anderson p.304</ref> One of the few to stand up for Bligh was the young [[Prince of Wales]], later [[George III of Great Britain|George III]], who chastised both the Prime Minister [[Duke of Newcastle (PM)|Duke of Newcastle]] and his ally [[William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham|William Pitt]] for not defending Bligh.<ref>Anderson p.477</ref> |
Bligh was poorly treated when he returned home. King [[George II of Great Britain|George II]] refused to receive him, considered an enormous slight, and he came under fierce criticism from all sides.<ref>Anderson p.304</ref> One of the few to stand up for Bligh was the young [[Prince of Wales]], later [[George III of Great Britain|George III]], who chastised both the Prime Minister [[Duke of Newcastle (PM)|Duke of Newcastle]] and his ally [[William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham|William Pitt]] for not defending Bligh.<ref>Anderson p.477</ref> |
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He was buried |
He was buried in [[Rathmore Church]], Ireland. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 04:18, 5 June 2024
Thomas Bligh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1685 |
| Died | 1775 (aged 89–90) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Great Britain |
| Years of service | 1740-1758 |
| Battles/wars | |
Lieutenant General Thomas Bligh (1685 – 1775) was an Irish-born British soldier, best known for his service during the Seven Years' War when he led a series of amphibious raids, known as "descents" on the French coastline. Despite initial success in these operations, they came to an end following the disastrous Battle of St Cast.[1]
Career
Bligh was born in 1685, the son of Irish politician, Thomas Bligh and his wife Elizabeth née Napier. During his long service in the British army, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant General. In 1745, during the War of the Austrian Succession, as a Brigadier, he took over command of allied troops at the Battle of Melle and led part of the defeated force to safety. He fought at Dettingen, Val, Fontneay, and Melle. He was also commander of the British troops at Cherbourg.[2][3] In 1758, he was appointed to command the descents, at the age of seventy-three. He led an initial successful Raid on Cherbourg in August 1758, capturing and destroying the town's fortifications. He then re-embarked and moved along the coast to St Malo. Confronted with adverse weather conditions, they were able only to land some of their force, which was soon confronted by a larger French force with had hurriedly marched there from Brest. In the scramble to get his men back onto the ships, Bligh fought a confused rearguard action, the Battle of Saint Cast suffering between 750 and 1,000 casualties before he was finally able to re-embark his men. They then sailed for England.[4]
Bligh was poorly treated when he returned home. King George II refused to receive him, considered an enormous slight, and he came under fierce criticism from all sides.[5] One of the few to stand up for Bligh was the young Prince of Wales, later George III, who chastised both the Prime Minister Duke of Newcastle and his ally William Pitt for not defending Bligh.[6]
He was buried in Rathmore Church, Ireland.
See also
References
- ^ Collins, Arthur (5 February 1779). "Vol. 7: The peerage of England : containing a genealogical and historical account of all the peers of that kingdom, now existing, either by tenure, summons, or creation, their descents and collateral lines, their births, marriages and issues, famous actions both in war and peaces, religious and charitable donations, deaths, places of burial, monuments, epitaphs, and many valuable memoirs never before printed : also their paternal coats of arms, crests, supporters and mottoes, curiously engraved on copper-plates / collected from records, old wills, authentic manuscripts, our most approved historians, and other authorities, which are cited by Arthur Collins, esq. ; in eight volumes". Printed for W. Strahan, J.F. and C. Rivington, J. Hinton, T. Payne, W. Owen, S. Crowder, T. Caslon, T. Longman, C. Rivington, C. Dilly, J. Robson, T. Lowndes, G. Robinson, T. Cadell, H.L. Gardner, W. Davis, J. Nichols, T. Evans, J. Bew, R. Baldwin, J. Almon, J. Murray, W. Fox, J. White, Fielding and Walker, T. Beecroft, J. Donaldson, M. Folingsby – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Lodge, John (5 February 1754). "The Peerage of Ireland, Or, A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom: With Their Paternal Coats of Arms, Engraven on Copper : Collected from the Publick Records; Authentic Manuscripts; Approved Historians; Well-attested Pedigrees; and Personal Information". William Johnston, bookseller, in St. Paul's Church-Yard – via Google Books.
- ^ "Rathmore (Meath) – Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)". www.libraryireland.com.
- ^ Anderson p.302-03
- ^ Anderson p.304
- ^ Anderson p.477
Bibliography
- Anderson, Fred. Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754–1766. Faber and Faber, 2001
External links
- Met picture
- Thomas Bligh (1685–1775) in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2649
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