David Colyear, 1st Earl of Portmore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Portmore
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The Earl of Portmore
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| Governor of Gibraltar | |
| In office 1713–1720 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Stanwix |
| Succeeded by | Richard Kane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1656 |
| Died | 2 January 1730 (aged 73–74) Weybridge, Surrey |
| Spouses |
Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester
(m. 1696; |
| Children | David Colyear, Viscount Milsington Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Nine Years' War War of the Spanish Succession |
General David Colyear, 1st Earl of Portmore (around 1656 – January 2, 1730) was an important Scottish general. He also served as the Governor of Gibraltar.
Contents
Becoming a Soldier
David Colyear was the older son of Sir Alexander Colyear, 1st Baronet. His family came from Strowan, Perthshire, in Scotland. His father moved to Holland and earned a lot of money there.
Joining the Army
In 1674, David Colyear joined the army of William of Orange. William later became King of England. David became a Lieutenant-General in the Scots Brigade. This was a group of three Scottish regiments that had fought for the Netherlands for many years.
He led the soldiers who landed at Torbay in England on November 5, 1688. This event was part of the Glorious Revolution. After that, he fought in many of William's campaigns in Ireland. In 1691, he was made Governor of Limerick.
Rising Through the Ranks
For his service in Ireland, David Colyear was given the title of Lord Portmore on June 1, 1699. In 1702, he became a Major-General. On February 27, 1703, he took command of the Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot. This regiment is now known as the 2nd Foot.
Just a few months later, on April 13, 1703, he received even higher titles. He became the Earl of Portmore, Viscount of Milsington, and Lord Colyear.
Fighting in Wars
He fought in the War of the Spanish Succession. This was a big war in Europe. He took part in the Battle of Cádiz in 1702 and the Battle of Vigo Bay later that year.
In 1710, he was put in charge of all the forces in Scotland. In January 1711, he became a full General. In 1712, he served under the Duke of Ormonde in Flanders. The same year, he became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the King. He also became a Knight of the Thistle, which is a special honor.
Governor of Gibraltar
In August 1713, he was made Governor of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is a very important place because of its location. In 1727, the Spanish army tried to capture Gibraltar. David Colyear went there to take command of the defense. But when Admiral Wager arrived with eleven ships, the Spanish army stopped their attack.
Family Life
David Colyear married Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester. Catherine was the daughter of Sir Charles Sedley, 5th Baronet. She had been given the title Countess of Dorchester in 1686.
David and Catherine had two sons:
- David Colyear, Viscount Milsington (1698–1728/9)
- Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore (1700–1785)
David Colyear died on January 2, 1730. His second son, Charles, became the next Earl of Portmore.
