Richard Warren (Jacobite) facts for kids
Richard Augustus Warren (1705–1775) was an Irish soldier. He supported the Jacobites, who wanted to bring the Stuart family back to the British throne. Warren served in the French army's Irish Brigade. He also took part in the Jacobite rising of 1745. He is famous for leading a naval mission to rescue Prince Charles Edward Stuart from Scotland in 1746.
Richard Warren's Life Story
Richard Warren was born in Corduff, Ireland. His parents were John Warren and Mary Jones. His family faced money problems. This led Richard to move to France. He worked briefly as a merchant in Marseilles.
In 1744, he became a volunteer captain in the French army. He joined an Irish regiment and fought in the Battle of Fontenoy. King Louis XV of France gave him a special mission. Warren was to lead two ships with French soldiers. These soldiers were reinforcements for the 1745 Jacobite rising.
He landed at Stonehaven, Scotland, in October 1745. The soldiers were for the army of Prince Charles. Prince Charles was also known as the Young Pretender. After seeing Warren build defenses at Perth, Prince Charles made him a Colonel. Warren then became a trusted helper, or aide-de-camp, to General Lord George Murray. He was present at the Siege of Carlisle. After this, he returned to France to get more help. The French court was grateful for his news. They also thanked him for safely bringing several captured prisoners. They made him a colonel and a knight of the Order of St Louis.
Rescuing Prince Charles Edward Stuart
The Jacobites lost the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. After this defeat, Warren volunteered for a dangerous mission. He offered to lead the effort to rescue Prince Charles from Scotland.
He left Saint-Malo, France, on August 31 with two French ships. Their names were Le Prince de Conti and L’Heureux. He landed at Loch nan Uamh in Scotland on September 6. After searching for three weeks, they found the Prince. Prince Charles was with his small group of supporters. Warren and the Prince left Scotland on September 30. Warren's ships landed at Roscoff in north-west France on October 10.
On November 3, 1746, James Francis Edward Stuart rewarded Warren. He made Warren a baronet, a special title of honor. This was for his "gallant service" to the Jacobite cause. However, Warren could only use this title publicly after 1751.
Serving France
Warren returned to serve in the French army. He became an aide-de-camp to Marshall Maurice de Saxe. In 1750, he was named "brigadier general of the English troops." This was a reward for his loyalty to the Jacobite cause. He visited London in 1751. In 1752, he was considered a rebel by the British government.
When the Seven Years' War began in 1756, he was appointed a brigadier of infantry. He was given command of the Irish Brigade. In 1762, he became a Maréchal de camp, a high-ranking officer. Soon after, he became a French citizen.
Richard Warren died in 1775. He was unmarried and had many debts. He had tried to get a higher Jacobite noble title, but he was not successful.
