John Armstrong (surveyor)
Encyclopedia
Major-General
John Armstrong (31 March 1674 – 15 April 1742) was a British
Engineer and Soldier.
Army of Ireland
in 1691. In 1697 he joined the Duke of Ormonde
's Horse Guards
.
In August 1711, during the War of the Spanish Succession
, he constructed overnight a large battery of artillery with which the enemy was bombarded furiously and successfully in the morning at the Siege of Bouchain
.
He was appointed Quartermaster-General to the Forces
in 1712 in recognition of his performance at Bouchain. After the Treaty of Utrecht
, in Spring 1713, he was appointed one of the Commissioners responsible for overseeing the dismantling of the harbour at Dunkirk.
In 1714, following the accession of George I
, he was appointed Chief Engineer
. He recommended the split in 1716 of the Ordnance Service into the Royal Engineers
and the Royal Artillery
.
He was made a fellow of the Royal Society
in 1723.
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
John Armstrong (31 March 1674 – 15 April 1742) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Engineer and Soldier.
Military career
Armstrong joined the WilliamiteWilliamite
Williamite refers to the followers of King William III of England who deposed King James II in the Glorious Revolution. William, the Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, replaced James with the support of English Whigs....
Army of Ireland
Ireland
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...
in 1691. In 1697 he joined the Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde KG KT was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the third of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom of Ormonde...
's Horse Guards
Horse Guards
Horse Guards or horse guards can refer to:* A Household Cavalry regiment:** Troops of the Horse Guards Regiment of the British Army from 1658-1788** The Royal Horse Guards, which is now part of the Blues and Royals...
.
In August 1711, 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...
, he constructed overnight a large battery of artillery with which the enemy was bombarded furiously and successfully in the morning at the Siege of Bouchain
Siege of Bouchain
The Siege of Bouchain , following the Passage of the Lines of Ne Plus Ultra , was a siege of the War of the Spanish Succession, and the last major victory of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Marlborough broke through the French defensive lines without losing a man to enemy action, and took...
.
He was appointed Quartermaster-General to the Forces
Quartermaster-General to the Forces
In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is a senior general in the British Army.From 1904 the Quartermaster-General to the Forces was the Third Military Member of the Army Board.-Responsibilities:...
in 1712 in recognition of his performance at Bouchain. After the Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
, in Spring 1713, he was appointed one of the Commissioners responsible for overseeing the dismantling of the harbour at Dunkirk.
In 1714, following the accession of George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
, he was appointed Chief Engineer
Chief Royal Engineer
The Chief Royal Engineer is the official head of the Corps of Royal Engineers. He was also the professional head of the Corps until 1941, when that role was moved to that of the Engineer-in-Chief.-Origin and development:...
. He recommended the split in 1716 of the Ordnance Service into the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
and the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
.
He was made a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1723.