Thomas Pearce (British Army officer) facts for kids

Thomas Pearce (around 1670 – 1739) was an important English army officer and politician. He was a member of the Privy Council, which advises the King or Queen, and also a Member of Parliament. During a big war called the War of the Spanish Succession, he was a high-ranking commander in Portugal. Later, he served in Gibraltar. In 1715, he moved to Ireland. He spent his last five years in Dublin, where he passed away in 1739. At the time of his death, he was the General of the King's Forces in Ireland.

Family Life

Thomas Pearce was the third and youngest son of Edward Pearce (who lived from 1620 to 1683) and his wife Mary (1635 – 1728). Mary was the daughter of a diplomat named Dudley Carleton. Thomas was born in Norwich around March 1670, near his father's estate in Whitlingham.

Thomas Pearce married Mary, the daughter of William Hewes. Her mother, Sarah, was the daughter of Thomas Wayte, who was the governor of Beeston Castle during a war. Thomas and Mary Pearce had three sons and two daughters. One of their daughters, Ann, married her cousin, a famous Irish architect named Edward Lovett Pearce.

Thomas Pearce had strong connections in politics. This was because he had close family members living in both London and Dublin.

Serving in Parliament

Thomas Pearce was a Member of Parliament (MP) for two different areas. From 1703 to 1713, he represented Ludgershall. This was a special type of voting area called a parliamentary borough in Wiltshire, England. Later, from 1727 until he died, he represented the city of Limerick in Ireland.

Army Career

Service in Portugal

From 1711 to 1713, Thomas Pearce was the deputy commander-in-chief in Portugal. This was during the final part of the War of the Spanish Succession.

In February 1713, he returned to England. He had the honor of meeting the Queen and was very well received.

Service in Gibraltar

In August 1717, the King ordered all officers belonging to the army regiments in Gibraltar to return to their posts right away. This order was especially for officers in Major-General Pearce's Regiment. Only those with special permission from the King were allowed to stay away.

Service in Ireland

In 1715, Thomas Pearce became the Military Governor of Limerick. This city and its castle were known for being difficult to control.

By 1727, he was back in Ireland. There were some disagreements in Limerick about who should be in charge of the city's government. Major General Pearce, as Governor, tried to take on the role of Mayor. This caused some upset among certain citizens.

In August 1737, there was a long meeting in Dublin. It was about choosing new leaders for Limerick. Lieutenant General Pearce, who was the Mayor at the time, had approved certain people. After a debate that lasted almost 13 hours, the council agreed with General Pearce's choices. They found that the complaints against him were not true. It also became clear that a certain family had been misusing the city's money for many years. The council decided to reject the petition against General Pearce. This decision made many citizens happy, as they felt he had saved them from unfair rule.

In October 1727, an election for Members of Parliament took place in Limerick. Lieutenant General Pearce was one of the candidates. He won the election and became an MP for Limerick.

Regiments and Ranks

Thomas Pearce had a long and successful career in the army. Here are some of the important steps he took:

• 1689: He started as an Ensign.

Coldstream Guards

• 1692: He became a Captain in the Coldstream Guards.

Foot Guards

• 1702: He was promoted to Major.
• 1703: He became a Colonel of Foot (infantry).

Pearce's Foot

• From February 1704 to September 1732, he was the Colonel of the 5th Regiment of Foot. This regiment later became known as the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Pearce's Horse

• From 1732 to 1739, he was the Colonel of the 5th Regiment of Horse. This regiment later became the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards.
• From July 1734, this regiment was based in Dublin.

General Officer

Thomas Pearce rose through the ranks to become a very senior officer:

• 1707: He was promoted to Brigadier General.
• 1710: He became a Major General.
• 1727: He reached the rank of Lieutenant General.

In May 1738, Lieutenant General Thomas Pearce reviewed several army regiments in Dublin. They performed their exercises very well, showing great skill.

In September 1738, he reviewed more regiments in Dublin's Phoenix Park. They also performed their exercises with great skill, and many people came to watch.

Death and Burial

In January 1739, Thomas Pearce passed away suddenly at his home in Dublin. At the time of his death, he was the Lieutenant-General of the King's Land Forces in Ireland. He was also a Colonel of a Horse Regiment, a Member of Parliament, and the Governor of Limerick.

On January 20, 1739, Lieutenant-General Thomas Pearce was buried with great military honors at Christ-Church in Dublin. A few days later, his body was moved and reburied at Donneybrooke Church.