Hercules Robert Pakenham

Lieutenant-General Sir Hercules Robert Pakenham (29 September 1781 – 7 March 1850) was a British Army officer who served as aide-de-camp to William IV of the United Kingdom.

Early life Hercules Robert Pakenham was born 29 September 1781, the third son of Edward Pakenham, 2nd Baron Longford and Hon. Catherine Rowley. He was a brother of Catherine Pakenham (which made him brother-in-law to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington), Thomas Pakenham, 2nd Earl of Longford, and Gen. Sir Edward Pakenham.

His mother was the second daughter of the Right Hon. Hercules Langford Rowley and Elizabeth Rowley, 1st Viscountess Langford. His aunt, the Hon. Jane Rowley, was the wife of Thomas Taylour, 1st Earl of Bective, and his uncle, Hercules Rowley, 2nd Viscount Langford, was a member of the Irish House of Commons for County Antrim and Downpatrick.

Career Pakenham was appointed ensign 40th Regiment of Foot on 23 July 1803, became lieutenant 3 February 1804, was transferred to the 95th rifles (later the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)) in April the same year, and obtained his company there on 2 August 1805. He served in the expedition to Copenhagen and in Portugal, where during the Battle of Roliça, he was slightly wounded at Obidos 16–17 Aug. 1808. "He is really one of the best officers of riflemen I have seen," wrote Sir Arthur Wellesley, recommending him for promotion. was appointed colonel 43rd Light Infantry on 9 September 1844, and was promoted to lieutenant-general on 9 November 1846.

Pakenham won the 1826 general election for Westmeath, but did not accept due to rumors that his favoring of Protestant interests resulted in his brother "discarding" him. The Catholic press reported that he was "the victim of the vote he gave ... in favour of emancipation."

On 25 December 1817, Pakenham married the Hon. Emily Stapleton (–1875), the fourth daughter of Sir Thomas Stapleton, 6th Baronet, 12th Baron le Despencer and the former Elizabeth Eliot. Together, they were the parents of six sons and three daughters, including: Rev. Arthur Hercules Pakenham (1824–1895), who died unmarried. Lt.-Gen. Thomas Henry Pakenham (1826–1913), who married Elizabeth Staples Clarke, daughter of William Clarke of New York City, in 1862. Robert Maxwell Pakenham (1834–1857), who was killed at the relief of Lucknow in India in 1857. Edmund Powerscourt Pakenham (1837–1861), who was killed at Gwalior Fort in India. Lt.-Col. Charles Wellesley Pakenham (1840–1873), a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Grenadier Guards who died "from decline" at 33. Emily Pakenham (d. 1883), who married Sir Edmund Hayes, 3rd Baronet, son of Sir Samuel Hayes, 2nd Baronet and Elizabeth Lighton (daughter of Sir Thomas Lighton, 1st Baronet), in 1837. Elizabeth Catherine Pakenham (d. 1885), who married Thomas Thistlethwayte, son of Thomas Thistlethwayte, in 1850. Mary Frances Hester Pakenham, who married Sir William Verner, 2nd Baronet, son of Sir William Verner, 1st Baronet and Harriet Wingfield (a granddaughter of Richard Wingfield, 3rd Viscount Powerscourt) in 1850.

He died suddenly at his residence, Langford Lodge, County Antrim, on 7 March 1850.

One of the 42 stalls in the Domus Dei in Portsmouth was dedicated to him.