Louis de Duras, 2nd Earl of Feversham
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Louis de Duras, 2nd Earl of Feversham KG
(1641 – 19 April 1709) was a French nobleman who became Earl of Feversham in Stuart
England.
Born in France, he was marquis de Blanquefort and sixth son of Guy Aldonce (1605–1665), Marquis of Duras and Count of Rozan, from the noble Durfort family
. His mother was Elizabeth de la Tour d'Auvergne, sister of Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne
.
His two brothers Jacques Henri
and Guy Aldonce
were Marshals of France. He was a Huguenot
.
In 1663 he came to England in the suite of James, duke of York
, and was naturalized in the same year. On 19 January 1673 he was raised to the English peerage
as Baron Duras, of Holdenby, his title being derived from an estate in Northamptonshire
bought from the duke of York, and in 1676 he married Mary, daughter and elder co-heiress of Sir George Sondes
, created in that year Baron Throwley, Viscount Sondes and Earl of Feversham.
On the death of his father-in-law in 1677, Duras succeeded to his titles under a special remainder. His wife died in 1679. He was appointed by Charles II
successively to the command of the third and first troops of Horse Guards
, was sent abroad on several important diplomat
ic missions, and became Master of the Horse
(1679) and Lord Chamberlain
to the queen
(1680). In 1682 he was appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber
, and was present at the king's deathbed conversion to Roman Catholicism
.
Under James II
, Feversham became a member of the Privy Council
, and in 1685 was given the chief command against the rebels under Monmouth
, in which he mainly distinguished himself by his cruelty to the vanquished after the Battle of Sedgemoor
. He was rewarded with a knighthood of the Garter and the colonelcy of the first troop of Life Guards
, and in 1686 he was appointed to the command of the army assembled by King James on Blackheath
to overawe the people.
After the Glorious Revolution
, Feversham succeeded in making his peace with William
, on the intercession of the queen dowager
, at whose instance he received the mastership of the Royal Hospital of St. Catherine near the Tower (1698). He died without issue on 19 April 1709 and was buried in the Savoy, in the Strand (London) ; but removed on 21 March 1740 to Westminster Abbey
.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(1641 – 19 April 1709) was a French nobleman who became Earl of Feversham in Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
England.
Born in France, he was marquis de Blanquefort and sixth son of Guy Aldonce (1605–1665), Marquis of Duras and Count of Rozan, from the noble Durfort family
Durfort (family)
Durfort is the name of a French noble family, distinguished in French and English history.Durfort is a village of southwestern France, formerly in the province of Guienne, now in the département of Tarn-et-Garonne, 18 m. NW of Montauban by road...
. His mother was Elizabeth de la Tour d'Auvergne, sister of Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne,often called simply Turenne was the most illustrious member of the La Tour d'Auvergne family. He achieved military fame and became a Marshal of France...
.
His two brothers Jacques Henri
Jacques Henri de Durfort de Duras
Jacques Henri de Durfort, Duke of Duras was marshal of France.-Life:Jacques Henri was the oldest son of Guy Aldonce de Durfort , marquis of Duras, count of Rozan and of Lorges, maréchal de camp and of Élisabeth de La Tour d'Auvergne, sister of Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, better known as...
and Guy Aldonce
Guy Aldonce de Durfort de Lorges
Guy Aldonce de Durfort, duc de Lorges, marshal of France, , was a French nobleman and soldier.Guy Aldonce was the fourth son of Guy Aldonce de Durfort , marquis of Duras, count of Rozan and of Lorges, maréchal de camp, and Élisabeth de La Tour d'Auvergne, daughter of Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne and...
were Marshals of France. He was a Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
.
In 1663 he came to England in the suite of James, duke of York
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...
, and was naturalized in the same year. On 19 January 1673 he was raised to the English peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
as Baron Duras, of Holdenby, his title being derived from an estate in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
bought from the duke of York, and in 1676 he married Mary, daughter and elder co-heiress of Sir George Sondes
George Sondes, 1st Earl of Feversham
George Sondes, 1st Earl of Feversham KB was an English peer and member of the House of Lords.-Life:He was born at Lees Court, in the parish of Sheldwich, near Feversham in Kent, the son of Sir Richard Sondes of Throwley, by his wife Susan, daughter of Sir Edward Montagu of Boughton...
, created in that year Baron Throwley, Viscount Sondes and Earl of Feversham.
On the death of his father-in-law in 1677, Duras succeeded to his titles under a special remainder. His wife died in 1679. He was appointed by Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
successively to the command of the third and first troops of Horse Guards
1st Regiment of Life Guards
The 1st Regiment of Life Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1788 by the union of the 1st Troop of Horse Guards and 1st Troop of Horse Grenadier Guards. In 1922, it was amalgamated with the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards to form the Life...
, was sent abroad on several important diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
ic missions, and became Master of the Horse
Master of the Horse
The Master of the Horse was a position of varying importance in several European nations.-Magister Equitum :...
(1679) and Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
to the queen
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
(1680). In 1682 he was appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber
Lord of the Bedchamber
A Lord of the Bedchamber, previously known as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a courtier in the Royal Household of the King of the United Kingdom and the Prince of Wales. A Lord of the Bedchamber's duties consisted of assisting the King with his dressing, waiting on him when he ate in private,...
, and was present at the king's deathbed conversion to Roman Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Under 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...
, Feversham became a member of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
, and in 1685 was given the chief command against the rebels under Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC , was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter...
, in which he mainly distinguished himself by his cruelty to the vanquished after the Battle of Sedgemoor
Battle of Sedgemoor
The Battle of Sedgemoor was fought on 6 July 1685 and took place at Westonzoyland near Bridgwater in Somerset, England.It was the final battle of the Monmouth Rebellion and followed a series of skirmishes around south west England between the forces of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and the...
. He was rewarded with a knighthood of the Garter and the colonelcy of the first troop of Life Guards
Life Guards (British Army)
The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
, and in 1686 he was appointed to the command of the army assembled by King James on Blackheath
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
to overawe the people.
After the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, Feversham succeeded in making his peace with William
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, on the intercession of the queen dowager
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
, at whose instance he received the mastership of the Royal Hospital of St. Catherine near the Tower (1698). He died without issue on 19 April 1709 and was buried in the Savoy, in the Strand (London) ; but removed on 21 March 1740 to Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.