Francis Palmes
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Francis Palmes MP
was a noted favorite general of the Duke of Marlborough
.
.
through the 1690s and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
. He saw service during the War of the Spanish Succession
.
In 1707 Palmes was promoted to Major General
.
. Reports from the battle state that 'hardly anyone was more instrumental to the success of that day' than Palmes, and his endeavors appear to have attracted the attention of the Duke of Marlborough
.
The Duke of Marlborough
recommended Palmes for appointment to the rank of Brigadier General, in August he was promoted to this rank and commissioned as brevet colonel of horse. Marlborough’s patronage of a similar note was also received by two other Irishmen, William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan
and Thomas Meredyth in the mid-1700s. Palmes was closely associated with the two. The Duke of Marlborough was accused as having Brigadier Cadogan, Brigadier Palmes and Brigadier Meredith as his favorites. A poem from 1707 recognised this close relationship between Palmes and the Duke of Marlborough and states that ‘Palmes was to marry Marlborough
’s illegitimate daughter and receive a portion of £10,000.
, Hanover
, Prussia
, Vienna
and Savoy
in order to concert measures with the allies.
MP
MP or mp may refer to:*Machine pistol*Malayo-Polynesian languages*Manu propria, a Latin expression for with one's own hand*Martinair IATA airline designator or reservation code*Maximum parsimony, a term used in statistical analyses...
was a noted favorite general of the Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough , is a hereditary title in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was John Churchill , the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.-History:The dukedom was...
.
Early life
Palmes was the second son of Francis Palmes of Carcraig and Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Thomas Taylor of Ballyport, County Limerick. The Palmes family of Carcraig was a cadet branch of the Palmes family of NaburnNaburn
Naburn is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the eastern side of the River Ouse about south of York. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 470...
.
Military career
Palmes began a lengthy military career shortly after the Revolution, being granted a captain’s commission in the regiment of the eldest son of the Earl of Devonshire in 1688. He severed in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
through the 1690s and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. He saw service during the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
.
In 1707 Palmes was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.
Battle of Blenheim
Palmes assumed command of his regiment at the Battle of BlenheimBattle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
. Reports from the battle state that 'hardly anyone was more instrumental to the success of that day' than Palmes, and his endeavors appear to have attracted the attention of the Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough , is a hereditary title in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was John Churchill , the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.-History:The dukedom was...
.
The Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough , is a hereditary title in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was John Churchill , the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.-History:The dukedom was...
recommended Palmes for appointment to the rank of Brigadier General, in August he was promoted to this rank and commissioned as brevet colonel of horse. Marlborough’s patronage of a similar note was also received by two other Irishmen, William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan
William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan
William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan KT PC was a noted military officer in the army of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough during the War of the Spanish Succession...
and Thomas Meredyth in the mid-1700s. Palmes was closely associated with the two. The Duke of Marlborough was accused as having Brigadier Cadogan, Brigadier Palmes and Brigadier Meredith as his favorites. A poem from 1707 recognised this close relationship between Palmes and the Duke of Marlborough and states that ‘Palmes was to marry Marlborough
Marlborough
Marlborough is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire on the Old Bath Road, the old main road from London to Bath. It is reputed to have one of the widest high streets in Britain, second only to Stockton-on-Tees. The town is on the river Kennet.-History:The earliest sign...
’s illegitimate daughter and receive a portion of £10,000.
Political positions
Palmes stood at the by-election on 23 January 1707 for West Looe and was successful. He did not stand for re-election in 1708.Diplomatic missions
From February 1708 Palmes travelled extensively, undertaking mission to the United ProvincesUnited Provinces
United Provinces may refer to:* United Provinces, another name for the Dutch Republic , now The Netherlands* United Provinces of Agra and Oudh , a former province of British India; now Uttar Pradesh...
, Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
in order to concert measures with the allies.
External links
- Sir Guy Palmes, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain, John Burke, 1835
- Appointment of Palmes in Rutland, Record Office Catalog, Leicestershire County Council
- Parliamentary Pardon of Guy Palmes, British History Online
- Palmes-Lindley family memorial, Otley, Yorkshire, Flickr.com