Colonel John Hurley facts for kids
Colonel John Hurley was an Irish Jacobite soldier and a type of fighter known as a Rapparee. He was active around December 1694. He fought for King James II during a time of big changes in Ireland.
Who Was Colonel John Hurley?
Colonel John Hurley came from a well-known family in County Limerick, Ireland. His family had a long history, with his grandfather being a younger son of Sir Thomas Hurley of Knocklong.
He first served as a soldier in the army of King James II in Ireland. King James II was trying to get his throne back, and many Irish people supported him. After King James II lost power, Colonel Hurley became a Rapparee. Rapparees were like guerrilla fighters who continued to resist the new government of King William III.
Fighting for King James II
In December 1694, Colonel Hurley and other Rapparee leaders, like Colonel Dermot Leary and Captain Edmond Ryan, made an important announcement. They spoke out against anyone who was not loyal to King James II. They even offered a reward of two hundred pounds to anyone who could bring them a member of King William's special advisory group, called the privy council. They also offered fifty pounds for any high-ranking officers still fighting against King James. This shows how dedicated they were to their cause.
It is thought that Colonel Hurley might have later gone to France. Many Irish soldiers and supporters of King James II went to France after the war in Ireland. He may have joined a famous military group there called Berwick's Regiment.
Family Connections
Colonel John Hurley had some interesting family connections. He was a cousin of Sir John Hurley, who was also a Jacobite supporter. He was also related to Luis Roberto de Lacy (1772–1817), who became a Brigadier General in the Spanish Army and fought in the Peninsular War. This shows that his family had members involved in military and political events across different countries.
See also
- Diarmaid Ó hUrthuile, an Archbishop of Cashel from the 1500s, who was also part of the Hurley family.
