LIGONIER, John Louis (1680-1770), of Cobham Place, Surr.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

25 Mar. 1748 - 27 Apr. 1763

Family and Education

b. 17 Oct. 1680, 2nd s. of Louis de Ligonier of Monteuquet, France by Louise, da. of Louis de Poncet. unm. K.B. 12 July 1743; cr. Visct. Ligonier [I] 31 Dec. 1757; Baron Ligonier 27 Apr. 1763; Earl Ligonier 10 Sept. 1766.

Offices Held

Capt. 10 Ft. 1703; brevet maj. 1706; brevet col. 1711; lt.-col. 12 Ft. 1712; lt. gov. Minorca 1713-16; lt.-col. 3 Drag. Gds. 1716-20; col. 7 Drag. Gds. 1720-49; a.-d.-c. to George II 1729-43; ranger of Phoenix Park 1735-51; brig.-gen. 1735; maj.-gen. 1739; gov. Kinsale 1739-40; lt.-gen. 1743; gen. 1746; lt.-gen. of Ordnance 1749-57; P.C. 1 Feb. 1749; col. 2 Drag. Gds. 1749-53; gov. Guernsey 1750-2, of Plymouth 1752-9; col. R. Horse Gds. 1753-7, 1 Ft. Gds. 1757-d.; f.m. 1757; c.-in.-c. 1757-66; master gen. of the Ordnance 1759-63.

Biography

A naturalized Huguenot refugee, Ligonier joined the English army in 1702 as a volunteer, acquired a commission in 1703, and served throughout the war of the Spanish succession. At the age of 40 he bought the colonelcy of a cavalry regiment stationed in Ireland, where he remained for the next 20 years. During the war of the Austrian succession he was taken prisoner at Lauffeld, but was released with an offer of peace from Louis XV, which led to the ending of the war.

On the conclusion of peace Ligonier, now 67, succeeded Field Marshal Wade as Member for Bath, for which he sat without opposition till he received an English peerage in 1763. He died 28 Apr. 1770, in his ninetieth year.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes