Richard Grace
Encyclopedia
Colonel Richard Grace was an Irish Royalist soldier who fought for Charles I
, Charles II
and James II
.
in England, until the surrender of Oxford in 1646. He then returned to Ireland, and was for some years engaged in the Irish Confederate Wars
. He is referred to in State Papers as being at the head of 3,000 men, harassing the Parliamentary troops — now in Wicklow
, and again at Crogan, beyond the River Shannon
.
In 1652 a reward of £300 was by the English Commonwealth government set upon his head, yet at the conclusion of the war he was permitted to enter the Spanish service with 1,200 of his men. At the Battle of the Dunes (1658)
he commanded the Lord Ormond's regiment of Irish in the services of King Charles II
. After some time he went over to the French side, without betraying any trust imposed upon him, having given due notice to his Spanish friends. After the Restoration he was appointed Chamberlain to the Duke of York (the future James II
), and in consideration of his faithful and indefatigable services, received "pensions of £400, and a portion at least of his estates were restored to him." When James II. came to Ireland, Grace was appointed Governor of Athlone, with a garrison of three regiments of foot, and eleven troops of cavalry.
After the Battle of the Boyne
, Athlone was invested
by General Douglas with ten regiments of foot, and five of horse. Grace having burnt the English town, and broken down the bridge, defended the Connaught works with indomitable spirit. When called upon to surrender, he fired a pistol over the messenger's head, and declared: "These are my terms; these only will I give or receive; and when my provisions are consumed, I will defend till I eat my old boots." At the end of a week, Douglas was obliged to draw off, with the loss of 400 men. The town was again invested by Godert de Ginkell
in 1691.
Marquis de St Ruth
had meanwhile obliged Grace to exchange three of his veteran regiments for inferior French troops. Nevertheless he made a heroic defence under St Ruth, and on 30 June 1691, after de Ginkell's passage of the Shannon and the capture of the citadel on the Connaught side, Colonel Grace's body was found under the ruins. His conduct towards the Protestants within his district is described as having been peculiarly humane and just; and although the severity of his discipline contrasted with the irregularities tolerated in other portions of the Irish army, he was greatly beloved by his men.
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, 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...
and 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...
.
Biography
Grace the younger son of Robert Grace, Baron of Courtstown, was born the early part of the 17th century, of a Kilkenny family that may have been descended from Odo, Count of Champagne. He resided at Moyelly Castle, Queen's County, and served Charles ICharles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in England, until the surrender of Oxford in 1646. He then returned to Ireland, and was for some years engaged in the Irish Confederate Wars
Irish Confederate Wars
This article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate Ireland....
. He is referred to in State Papers as being at the head of 3,000 men, harassing the Parliamentary troops — now in Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
, and again at Crogan, beyond the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
.
In 1652 a reward of £300 was by the English Commonwealth government set upon his head, yet at the conclusion of the war he was permitted to enter the Spanish service with 1,200 of his men. At the Battle of the Dunes (1658)
Battle of the Dunes (1658)
The Battle of the Dunes, fought on 14 June , 1658, is also known as the Battle of Dunkirk. It was a victory of the French army, under Turenne, against the Spanish army, led by John of Austria the Younger and Louis II de Condé...
he commanded the Lord Ormond's regiment of Irish in the services of King 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...
. After some time he went over to the French side, without betraying any trust imposed upon him, having given due notice to his Spanish friends. After the Restoration he was appointed Chamberlain to the Duke of York (the future 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...
), and in consideration of his faithful and indefatigable services, received "pensions of £400, and a portion at least of his estates were restored to him." When James II. came to Ireland, Grace was appointed Governor of Athlone, with a garrison of three regiments of foot, and eleven troops of cavalry.
After the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
, Athlone was invested
Siege of Athlone
Athlone in central Ireland, was besieged twice during the Williamite War in Ireland . The town is situated on the River Shannon and commanded the bridge crossing the river into the Jacobite held province of Connaught...
by General Douglas with ten regiments of foot, and five of horse. Grace having burnt the English town, and broken down the bridge, defended the Connaught works with indomitable spirit. When called upon to surrender, he fired a pistol over the messenger's head, and declared: "These are my terms; these only will I give or receive; and when my provisions are consumed, I will defend till I eat my old boots." At the end of a week, Douglas was obliged to draw off, with the loss of 400 men. The town was again invested by Godert de Ginkell
Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone
Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone, or in his own country of the Netherlands born Baron Godard van Reede was a Dutch general in the service of England....
in 1691.
Marquis de St Ruth
Marquis de St Ruth
Charles Chalmont Marquis of St Ruth was a French general. Early in his military career, he fought against Protestants in France...
had meanwhile obliged Grace to exchange three of his veteran regiments for inferior French troops. Nevertheless he made a heroic defence under St Ruth, and on 30 June 1691, after de Ginkell's passage of the Shannon and the capture of the citadel on the Connaught side, Colonel Grace's body was found under the ruins. His conduct towards the Protestants within his district is described as having been peculiarly humane and just; and although the severity of his discipline contrasted with the irregularities tolerated in other portions of the Irish army, he was greatly beloved by his men.