John Higgins of Montoge
Encyclopedia
Sir John Higgins of Montoge (1678-1729) was a descendent of the O'Higgins
of Montiagh an Irish noble family who lost their lands in Sligo
under the English Crown about 1649. His parents were a Dr. Patrick Higgins of Limerick
City and his wife Mary Loftus of Annacotty. He was born in 1678 but after the Treaty of Limerick
in 1691 he left Ireland to live in exile with his family at the Court of James II
at St. Germaine in France. In 1700 he graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Montpellier
and went to Spain where he served in action as medical officer to the combined French and Spanish forces.
In in 1712 he married the daughter of John Baptiste de Courtiade, the town doctor of Bayonne
. In 1714 Higgins worked unsparingly for the relief of the soldiers in the Siege of Barcelona. In 1717 he received the highest medical post in Spain, the office of Proto-médico de Camera. The following year he was elected President of the Royal Academy of Medicine and Surgery of Seville
. Higgins remained a good friend to Ireland and the Irish in Spain and when war was declared on England in 1718 he was instrumental in preventing the confiscation of the goods and property of the Irish merchants.
In 1721 the Duc de Saint-Simon fell ill with smallpox while he was French Ambassador to Spain. The King sent Higgins to care for him and the Duc recovered. In 1722 Higgins received the title Councillor of Castille from Philip V of Spain
, and in 1723 he corresponded Sir James Terry who was Athlone Herald to the exiled Stuarts in France and Italy regarding a confirmation of his family's Arms. In 1724 James III
made him a Knight and Baronet for his services to France. John Higgins died in Seville
at the age of 51 but his descendants continued in Spain.
O'Higgins
O’Higgins may refer to:*O'Higgins , lists notable people with the surname*O'Higgins FamilyArticles whose names are derived from Bernardo O'Higgins, Chilean independence leader*O'Higgins Region, Chile...
of Montiagh an Irish noble family who lost their lands in Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
under the English Crown about 1649. His parents were a Dr. Patrick Higgins of Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
City and his wife Mary Loftus of Annacotty. He was born in 1678 but after the Treaty of Limerick
Treaty of Limerick
The Treaty of Limerick ended the Williamite war in Ireland between the Jacobites and the supporters of William of Orange. It concluded the Siege of Limerick. The treaty really consisted of two treaties which were signed on 3 October 1691. Reputedly they were signed on the Treaty Stone, an...
in 1691 he left Ireland to live in exile with his family at the Court of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
at St. Germaine in France. In 1700 he graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Montpellier
University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier was a French university in Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon région of the south of France. Its present-day successor universities are the University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier 2 University and Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III.-History:The university...
and went to Spain where he served in action as medical officer to the combined French and Spanish forces.
In in 1712 he married the daughter of John Baptiste de Courtiade, the town doctor of Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
. In 1714 Higgins worked unsparingly for the relief of the soldiers in the Siege of Barcelona. In 1717 he received the highest medical post in Spain, the office of Proto-médico de Camera. The following year he was elected President of the Royal Academy of Medicine and Surgery of Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
. Higgins remained a good friend to Ireland and the Irish in Spain and when war was declared on England in 1718 he was instrumental in preventing the confiscation of the goods and property of the Irish merchants.
In 1721 the Duc de Saint-Simon fell ill with smallpox while he was French Ambassador to Spain. The King sent Higgins to care for him and the Duc recovered. In 1722 Higgins received the title Councillor of Castille from Philip V of Spain
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
, and in 1723 he corresponded Sir James Terry who was Athlone Herald to the exiled Stuarts in France and Italy regarding a confirmation of his family's Arms. In 1724 James III
James Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
made him a Knight and Baronet for his services to France. John Higgins died in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
at the age of 51 but his descendants continued in Spain.