Talk:John Le Marchant (British Army cavalry officer)

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The official record of all Le Marchant's commissions should be amongst these search results http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/SearchResults.aspx?GeoType=London&st=adv&sb=date&FDay=9&FMth=2&FYr=1766&TDay=31&TMth=12&TYr=1812&exact=Marchant& I've added the captaincy to the article, but haven't had time to go through all of them to separate the wheat from the chaff, I've also foudn the ODNB article and added that as a ref. A few other points that strike me - it seems a little misleading to describe him as 2inC to Paget, Paget was doubtless the Colonel of the Regiment, but by this time day-to-day operational responsiblity devolved on the lieutenant-colonel - the colonel still approved all commissions in the regiment and kept a paternal eye on things, but rarely commanded the regiment in the field (as I understand it). Also the article currently states that the promotion to lieutnenant-colonel was at the King's behest, ODNB says the Duke of York was responsible (and since he was CinC it's perhaps more likely). Linking to Sale of commissions would help to explain the social disadvantage he was at, and why the loss of money at cards could have seen the end of his career. David Underdown (talk) 14:11, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

Though Paget was made a "colonel-in-the-army" in 1796 he was not made colonel commanding the 7th Light Dragoons until 16 May 1801 when he took over from Sir David "Pivot" Dundas ("One Leg" p.349). Thus Paget was senior lt. colonel and Le Marchant junior lt. colonel, and therefore 2nd in command, of the 7th at the time they were both appointed to the regiment.

Le Marchant's promotion to lt. colonel was a little complicated as he was appointed to Hompesch's Hussars then almost immediately transferred to the 7th LD. Denis Le Marchant quotes King George as saying to his father (pp.48-49) "I dare say many persons will claim the merit of your promotion; now I wish you to know that whatever merit there is in it rests entirely between you and me, for no one else is concerned in it." It is certain that it was not through purchase.

The link to purchase sounds like a good idea.

Le Marchant was firmly against patronage in the army, that is the practice by senior officers/politicians etc of pushing their relations up the promotions ladder, however, he himself benefitted from patronage from the very highest echelons, though this patronage was based on his merit alone and was not based on any family connection.

Urselius (talk) 21:06, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

Unusual to have 2 lt-cols actually on regimental duty a tthe same time, but as you say there do seem to ahve been some exceptional circumstances. David Underdown (talk) 10:13, 11 May 2008 (UTC)