Henry Nugent
Encyclopedia
Henry Nugent, Count of Valdesoto
and Viscount Coolamber (died November 1704) was an Irish
military man. He was the third Governor of Gibraltar
during the Habsburg occupation. He served in this military position during the period of 6 August 1704 to November 1704.
.
His father was Thomas Nugent, who descended from James Nugent, the younger brother of Richard Nugent, 13th Baron Delvin (died 1559).
His older brother was James Nugent of Coolamber, County Longford
in the Irish Midlands.
, during the Williamite War in Ireland
. After the siege of Limerick in 1691
, Nugent joined the Imperial regiment of Irish under Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt
in 1692, entering into service for the Habsburgs, as being a Roman Catholic, he was unable to be commissioned in the British Army
.
In 1697, he distinguished himself while defending Barcelona
against the French during the Siege of Barcelona at the orders of the Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt. Once the War of the Spanish Succession
started, he was created Count of Val de Soto (Conde de Valdesoto) in Spain by Archduke Charles
, pretender to the Spanish throne.
On 4 August 1704, the Eleventh Siege of Gibraltar
ended when Governor Diego de Salinas surrendered Gibraltar to Prince George, who took it in the name of Archduke, as Charles III, king of Castile and Aragon. Two days later, on 6 August 1704, Nugent was appointed Governor of Gibraltar, with the rank of Major General
. He was described as "an Irish Catholic, not well regarded by the English" . Brigadier Fox, commander of the English Marines
, and junior to Nugent, demanded to go home. Hesse gave a refusal to Fox, prompting antagonism between Nugent and Fox.
During the Twelfth Siege of Gibraltar in November 1704, Nugent was mortally wounded on 9 November and died soon thereafter. His death was caused by wounds sustained at San Pablo Battery (North Bastion). He was succeeded as Governor by Brigadier John Shrimpton
of the Royal Marines.
Thomas' son, Francis, became the 3rd Count of Valdesoto.
Valdesoto
Valdesoto is a parish located in the southeastern part of Siero a municipality of the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain. It is consecrated to Saint Felix. There are 15 villages within Valdesoto. The population as of 2005 was 1967 inhabitants...
and Viscount Coolamber (died November 1704) was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
military man. He was the third Governor of Gibraltar
Governor of Gibraltar
The Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar is the representative of the British monarch in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The Governor is appointed by the British Monarch on the advice of the British Government...
during the Habsburg occupation. He served in this military position during the period of 6 August 1704 to November 1704.
Early years
Nugent was born in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
His father was Thomas Nugent, who descended from James Nugent, the younger brother of Richard Nugent, 13th Baron Delvin (died 1559).
His older brother was James Nugent of Coolamber, County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
in the Irish Midlands.
Career
In 1690-91, Nugent fought in the Irish campaign, in support of King JamesJames 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...
, during the Williamite War in Ireland
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
. After the siege of Limerick in 1691
Siege of Limerick (1691)
Limerick in western Ireland was besieged twice during the Williamite War in Ireland . The city, held by Jacobite forces was able to beat off a Williamite assault in 1690. However, after a second siege in August-October 1691, it surrendered on terms....
, Nugent joined the Imperial regiment of Irish under Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt
Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt
Prince George Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt was a Field Marshal in the Austrian army. He is known for his career in Habsburg Spain, as Viceroy of Catalonia , head of the Austrian army in the War of Spanish Succession and governor of Gibraltar in 1704...
in 1692, entering into service for the Habsburgs, as being a Roman Catholic, he was unable to be commissioned in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
In 1697, he distinguished himself while defending Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
against the French during the Siege of Barcelona at the orders of the Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt. Once the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
started, he was created Count of Val de Soto (Conde de Valdesoto) in Spain by Archduke Charles
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
, pretender to the Spanish throne.
On 4 August 1704, the Eleventh Siege of Gibraltar
Capture of Gibraltar
The Capture of Gibraltar by the Anglo-Dutch forces of the Grand Alliance occurred between 1–3 August 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Since the beginning of the war the Allies had been looking for a harbour in the Iberian Peninsula to control the Strait of Gibraltar and facilitate...
ended when Governor Diego de Salinas surrendered Gibraltar to Prince George, who took it in the name of Archduke, as Charles III, king of Castile and Aragon. Two days later, on 6 August 1704, Nugent was appointed Governor of Gibraltar, with the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. He was described as "an Irish Catholic, not well regarded by the English" . Brigadier Fox, commander of the English Marines
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and junior to Nugent, demanded to go home. Hesse gave a refusal to Fox, prompting antagonism between Nugent and Fox.
During the Twelfth Siege of Gibraltar in November 1704, Nugent was mortally wounded on 9 November and died soon thereafter. His death was caused by wounds sustained at San Pablo Battery (North Bastion). He was succeeded as Governor by Brigadier John Shrimpton
John Shrimpton
-Military career:Shrimpton joined the Army becoming a Major in the 1st Foot Guards.In 1693, during the Nine Years' War, he was wounded at the Battle of Landen in Flanders...
of the Royal Marines.
Personal life
Nugent was survived by his wife and children.- Daughter, Marcella, married Edward Nugent, grandson of Richard Nugent, 1st Earl of WestmeathRichard Nugent, 1st Earl of WestmeathRichard Nugent, 1st Earl of Westmeath was an Irish nobleman and politician of the early seventeenth century. Imprisoned for plotting against the Crown in 1607, he soon obtained a pardon and thereafter was regarded as a reliable supporter of the Government...
. - Son, Thomas, became 2nd Count of Valdesoto.
Thomas' son, Francis, became the 3rd Count of Valdesoto.