Brigadier John Mordaunt, Viscount Mordaunt (c. 1681 – 5 April 1710) was an English soldier and politician.
John Mordaunt, Viscount Mordaunt | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Chippenham | |
| In office 1701–1705 1705-1707 1707-1708 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1681 |
| Died | 5 April 1710 (aged 28–29) |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse |
Frances Powlett (m. 1708) |
| Children | 2, Charles and John |
| Parents |
|
| Education | Christ Church, Oxford |
| Military career | |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands | 1st Foot Guards Scots Fuzileers 28th Regiment |
| Wars | War of the Spanish Succession |
Career
editThe eldest son of Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough, he was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, after travelling in Holland in 1699.[1]
He was elected, as a Whig Member of Parliament for Chippenham in 1701 despite a petition alleging, among other things, he was still a minor. (That year he was aged about 20.) He was a political ally of his father's and managed the attempt to impeach Lord Somers in the House of Commons in the same year.[2] At the General Election of 1705 he vacated his seat to unsuccessfully contest Nottinghamshire but returned to Chippenham later that year in a by-election caused by the death of a newly returned Whig member, and sat until 1708.[1]
He saw distinguished service during the War of the Spanish Succession. As a captain, he led 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 his left arm.[1][3] On 25 August 1704, he was made colonel of the Scots Fuzileers in place of Brigadier Archibald Rowe, killed in the attack at Blenheim. On 26 June 1706 he exchanged regiments with Sampson de Lalo, then colonel of the 28th regiment, but resumed the colonelcy of the Scots Fuzileers in 1709[4] when de Lalo was killed at the Battle of Malplaquet.
Marriage
editIn 1708, he married Lady Frances Powlett (d. 1715), daughter of Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton. They had two sons:[5]
- Charles Mordaunt, 4th Earl of Peterborough (1708–1779)
- Lt.-Col. John Mordaunt (c. 1709–1767)
He died of smallpox[2] on 5 April 1710, and was buried at Turvey on 13 April.
References
edit- ^ a b c Hayton, D. W. (2002). "MORDAUNT, John, Lord Mordaunt (c.1681-1710)". In Hayton, David; Cruickshanks, Eveline; Handley, Stuart (eds.). The House of Commons 1690–1715. The History of Parliament Trust.
- ^ 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 Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19162. Retrieved 9 October 2006. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "History of the Grenadier Guards". Retrieved 9 October 2006.
- ^ "The Royal Scots Fusiliers". Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 10 October 2006.
- ^ "Mordaunt genealogy". Retrieved 10 October 2006.
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