Nathaniel Hooke (Jacobite) facts for kids

Nathaniel Hooke (1664–1738) was an important figure from Ireland who became a soldier and diplomat for France. He was also given the title of Baron Hooke in the Jacobite Peerage of Ireland. This means he was a nobleman who supported the Jacobite cause, which aimed to bring the old royal family back to the throne in Britain.

Early Life and Education

Nathaniel Hooke was born in 1664 in Corballis, County Meath, Ireland. He was the third son of John Hooke. His older brother, John Hooke, became a judge.

Nathaniel started his education at Kilkenny College. In 1679, he began studying at Trinity College, Dublin. However, he left soon after, possibly because of disagreements about religious views. He then went to Glasgow University in 1680 and later to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1681.

Monmouth's Rebellion

Hooke left Cambridge University without finishing his degree. He traveled to Holland to join the forces of Archibald, Earl of Argyll. In 1685, he landed in England with the Duke of Monmouth. Monmouth was leading a rebellion against King James II. Hooke pretended to be Monmouth's personal chaplain.

When Monmouth's forces moved into Somerset, Hooke was sent on a secret mission to London. His job was to encourage a rebellion in the city. He was not included in the general pardon that was given out later. However, in 1688, he surrendered and was pardoned.

Serving the Jacobites and France

After these events, Hooke became a loyal supporter of King James II and VII. He also converted to the Roman Catholic faith. When King James gave up his throne, Hooke joined John, Viscount Dundee, in Scotland. In May 1689, Hooke was captured in Chester and sent to the Tower of London.

He was released in February 1690 and went to Ireland. He fought in the Battle of the Boyne with the Jacobite Army. After this, he joined the French army, serving in the Galmoye Regiment, which was part of the Irish Brigade.

In 1702, Hooke started communicating with the Duke of Marlborough, a famous British general. The next year, Hooke was given a command in the Sparre Regiment. He fought with the French Army in the War of the Spanish Succession in places like Flanders and the Moselle.

In August 1705, Hooke led a mission to the Scottish Jacobites. In 1706, he asked to become a French citizen. He also took part in the Battle of Ramillies.

In April 1707, Hooke went to Scotland again with Lieutenant-Colonel Lord John Murray to work with the Jacobites there. The next year, on March 3, 1708, he became a Brigadier-General in the French Army. He was also made an Irish Baron. He then participated in the Dunkirk expedition that year and fought in the Battle of Malplaquet the following year.

Later Life and Diplomatic Work

In 1709, Hooke turned down another mission to Scotland. Instead, in 1711, he went to Dresden on a diplomatic mission for King Louis XIV of France to Augustus II. However, this negotiation didn't achieve much because of the Treaty of Utrecht, which ended a major European war.

Nathaniel Hooke was not heavily involved in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. He was in touch with John, Earl of Stair, who was the British Ambassador to Paris at the time. This contact was likely to gather information. On March 18, 1718, he became a "maréchal de camp," which is a rank similar to a major-general.

On January 1, 1720, his French citizenship was officially confirmed. On April 27, 1721, King Louis XV appointed him a Commander of the Order of Saint Louis, a French military award. He was also a Knight of Malta.

Lord Hooke passed away on October 25, 1738.

Letters and Writings

Nathaniel Hooke's letters from 1703 to 1707 were copied by his nephew, also named Nathaniel Hooke. These important letters were given to the Bodleian Library in Oxford for safekeeping. They were later published in a collection edited by William Dunn Macray. Parts of his writings had also appeared in earlier books about the revolutions in Scotland and Ireland.

Family Life

In 1704, Hooke married Eleanor Susan MacCarthy Reagh. She was a Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Mary. From 1708, she was known as Lady Hooke. They had one son, James Nathaniel Hooke (1705–1744), who became the 2nd and last Baron Hooke after his father's death.

See also

• List of Ambassadors of France to the United Kingdom