Francis Ligonier

Francis Augustus Ligonier (1693 – 25 January 1746) was a French-born officer of the British Army.

Biography He was born François-Auguste de Ligonnier at Castres, Languedoc the third of five surviving sons of the Huguenot Louis de Ligonnier, sieur of Monteuquet, and his wife Louise du Poncet. The second son John (Jean-Louis) emigrated in 1697 and entered the British service in 1702, and another brother Anthony (Antoine) went to England in 1698, dying as a major in the British Army.

Francis Ligonier moved to England in 1710 and was secured a commission as ensign in Phillips's 12th Regiment of Foot through his brother John, who had been made lieutenant-colonel of the regiment in 1711. After service at Menorca the brothers returned to England in 1716, and Ligonier transferred to the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards (the Blues) as a cornet. He was promoted to lieutenant in the Blues in 1720 and captain in the 9th Regiment of Dragoons (Wynne's) in 1722. In 1729 he was promoted major in the 8th Regiment of Horse (the Black Horse), of which John Ligonier had been made colonel in 1720, later commanding the regiment as its lieutenant-colonel. The Black Horse formed part of the garrison in Ireland, and Ligonier was made joint Chief Ranger of Ireland with his brother and Lord John Sackville in 1736. Ligonier left two illegitimate children from a relationship with a widow named Anne Murray (née Freeman): Edward and Frances. Care of the children was given to their uncle John Ligonier, and Edward was made heir-apparent to the title of Viscount Ligonier of Clonmell created in 1762, succeeding on his uncle's death in 1770.