| The Viscount Molesworth | |
|---|---|
Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth |
|
| Born | 1680 |
| Died | 12 October 1758 (aged 77 or 78) |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Commands held | Ireland |
| Battles/wars | War of the Spanish Succession Jacobite Rising |
Field Marshal Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth, PC (1680 – 12 October 1758), styled The Honourable Richard Molesworth from 1716 to 1726, was an Anglo-Irish military officer, politician and nobleman.
Molesworth was commissioned into Orkney's Regiment in 1702; he served with his Regiment at the Battle of Blenheim.[1] On 22 May 1706, the eve of the battle of Ramillies, he was appointed aide-de-camp to the great Duke of Marlborough. During the battle, a French cavalry unit came close to killing the Duke when an Irish recruit, Patrick Molaise O'Meighan, shot the Duke's horse dead from under him. Molesworth galloped to the rescue, mounted the Duke on his horse and made good their escape. By rescuing Marlborough when he had fallen from his horse, he is famously attributed to saving Marlborough's life at the Battle of Ramillies.[1] As a result of his heroism, he was bestowed by the monach the right to fly the royal colours in perpetuity.
In 1707 he became Commanding Officer of the Coldstream Guards.[1] He was present at the relief of Brussels and at the Battle of Malplaquet in 1709.[1] The following year he served in Catalonia.[1]
In 1714 he became Lieutenant of the Ordnance in Ireland then became Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons for Swords.[1] In 1715 he raised a Regiment of Dragoons and helped suppress the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715.[1]
He was made Commander-in-Chief, Ireland in 1751, which was the title of the commander of all British forces in Ireland before 1922, and since held by the President of Ireland.[1]
He was colonel of the 5th Regiment of Dragoons and 9th Regiment of Dragoons.[1]
He married twice. First he married Jane Lucas and had one child, Mary, later to be styled Countess Belvedere, and second wife of Robert Rochfort 1st Earl of Belvedere. Secondly he married Mary Jenney Ussher and had four children from this union. Henrietta, Melosina, Mary and Louisa.[2]
| Parliament of Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Molesworth Plunket Plunket |
Member of Parliament for Swords 1715–1727 With: Plunket Plunket |
Succeeded by Hon. Bysse Molesworth Edward Bolton |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by James Crofts |
Colonel of Viscount Molesworth's Regiment of Dragoons 1732–1737 |
Succeeded by John Cope |
| Preceded by Owen Wynne |
Colonel of the 5th Regiment of Dragoons 1737–1758 |
Succeeded by John Mostyn |
| Preceded by Unknown |
Commander-in-Chief, Ireland 1751–1758 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Rothes |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by John Molesworth |
Viscount Molesworth 1726–1758 |
Succeeded by Richard Molesworth |