John Mordaunt, Viscount Mordaunt

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John Mordaunt, Viscount Mordaunt (c. 1681 – 5 April 1710) was an English soldier and politician.

The eldest son of Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough, he was a political ally of his father's and managed the attempt to impeach Lord Somers in the House of Commons in 1701.^[1]

He saw distinguished service during the War of the Spanish Succession. As a captain, he lead the forlorn hope of the 1st Foot Guards at the Battle of Schellenberg in 1704, and was one of the few to survive that bloody assault. Shortly thereafter, he helped lead another furious assault at the Battle of Blenheim and lost an arm.^[2] On August 25, 1704, he was made colonel of the Scots Fuzileers in place of Brigadier Archibald Rowe, killed in the attack at Blenheim. On June 26, 1706 he exchanged regiments with Sampson de Lalo, then colonel of the 28th regiment, but resumed the colonelcy of the Scots Fuzileers in 1709^[3] when de Lalo was killed at the Battle of Malplaquet.

In 1708, he married Lady Frances Powlett (d. 1715), daughter of Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton. They had two sons:^[4]

• Charles Mordaunt, 4th Earl of Peterborough (1708–1779)
• Lt.-Col. John Mordaunt (c. 1709–1767)

He died of smallpox^[1] on 5 April 1710, and was buried at Turvey on 13 April.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Hattendorf, John B. (October 2006). “Mordaunt, Charles, third earl of Peterborough and first earl of Monmouth (1658?–1735)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved on 2006-10-09.
2. ^ History of the Grenadier Guards. Retrieved on 2006-10-09.
3. ^ The Royal Scots Fusiliers. Retrieved on 2006-10-10.
4. ^ Mordaunt genealogy. Retrieved on 2006-10-10.

• This page incorporates information from Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page.

Parliament of England
Preceded by: Walter White Edward Montagu	Member for Chippenham with Walter White 1701–1702 James Montagu 1702–1705 1701–1705	Succeeded by: Sir James Long, Bt Walter White
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by: Sir James Long, Bt Walter White	Member for Chippenham with Sir James Long, Bt 1705–1708	Succeeded by: Sir James Long, Bt James Montagu
Military Offices
Preceded by: Archibald Rowe	Colonel of the Scots Fuzileers 1704–1706	Succeeded by: Sampson de Lalo
Preceded by: Sampson de Lalo	Colonel of Viscount Mordaunt's Regiment of Foot 1706	Succeeded by: Andrews Windsor
Preceded by: Sampson de Lalo	Colonel of the Scots Fuzileers 1709–1710	Succeeded by: Thomas Meredith