Charles O'Brien, 5th Viscount Clare
Encyclopedia
Charles O'Brien, 5th Viscount Clare
(1673–1706) was the son of Daniel O'Brien, 3rd Viscount Clare
and Philadelphia Lennard. He married Charlotte Bulkeley, daughter of Henry Bulkeley and Sophia Stuart, on 9 January 1696, at Saint-Germain-en-Laye
, France. Henry Bulkeley was the "Master of the Household" for Kings Charles II and James II.
Charles succeeded his brother Daniel, 4th Viscount Clare, to the title as 5th Viscount Clare in the Jacobite Peerage on his brother's death from a mortal wound received in the Battle of Marsaglia, Italy 4 October 1693. Charles was transferred from the Queen's Dismounted Dragoon's where he was colonel, to the command of O'Brien's Regiment on 6 April 1696. Later in the year he led the regiment in the siege of Valenza in Lombardy, and the next year they were stationed with the army at Meuse.
By 1698 over one third of King James’ army was either dead or crippled, and when the treaty of Ryswick ended the war between Louis and William, James’ soldiers were disbanded, unemployed, and homeless. Many became beggars but others joined the Irish Brigade in the Spanish army, while others went to Austria and entered the Catholic Corps.
Hostilities were renewed and Clare’s Regiment was assigned to the Army of Germany for two years in 1701-02. At the Battle of Cremona, in 1702, the Irishmen defended the town against Prince Eugene and the imperial army. The attack was to be a surprise but the Wild Geese foiled the attempt. The following year Lord Clare was promoted to brevet Brigadier of Infantry on 2 April 1703. A few months later on 20 September 1703, the unit took part in the successful Battle of Hochstedt, better known as the Battle of Blenheim
and a year later was involved with the unsuccessful battle on 13 August 1704, at the second Battle of Blenheim. Although Clare’s Regiment experienced ups and downs, they were always admired. Two months after Blenheim, Charles rose to the brevet rank of Marshal-de-Camp on 26 October 1704, and a year later Lord Clare was assigned to the Army of the Moselle under the Marshel de Villars. Clare’s Regiment fought in the disastrous Battle of Ramillies
on 23 May 1706, where they distinguished themselves with great glory, but Lord Clare was mortally wounded and died at Brussels, Belgium.
Due to the great service the O'Brien family had given to France, and having risked all, King Louise XIV made sure that the regiment was kept in the family, and appointed Lt. Col. Murrough O'Brien (of the Carrigonnell O'Brien's) as its commander until the minor Charles came of age.
Children of Charles O'Brien and Charlotte Bulkeley
Viscount Clare
-First creation:The titles of Viscount Clare and Baron Moyarta were conferred on Daniel O'Brien, a younger son of Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond, on 11 July 1662. These titles were forfeit by the attainder of the third Viscount in 1691. However, the title continued to be used by his...
(1673–1706) was the son of Daniel O'Brien, 3rd Viscount Clare
Daniel O'Brien, 3rd Viscount Clare
Daniel O'Brien was the 3rd Viscount Clare.O'Brien was the son of Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare and Honora O'Brien, daughter of Daniel O'Brien and Ellen FitzGerald....
and Philadelphia Lennard. He married Charlotte Bulkeley, daughter of Henry Bulkeley and Sophia Stuart, on 9 January 1696, at Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
, France. Henry Bulkeley was the "Master of the Household" for Kings Charles II and James II.
Charles succeeded his brother Daniel, 4th Viscount Clare, to the title as 5th Viscount Clare in the Jacobite Peerage on his brother's death from a mortal wound received in the Battle of Marsaglia, Italy 4 October 1693. Charles was transferred from the Queen's Dismounted Dragoon's where he was colonel, to the command of O'Brien's Regiment on 6 April 1696. Later in the year he led the regiment in the siege of Valenza in Lombardy, and the next year they were stationed with the army at Meuse.
By 1698 over one third of King James’ army was either dead or crippled, and when the treaty of Ryswick ended the war between Louis and William, James’ soldiers were disbanded, unemployed, and homeless. Many became beggars but others joined the Irish Brigade in the Spanish army, while others went to Austria and entered the Catholic Corps.
Hostilities were renewed and Clare’s Regiment was assigned to the Army of Germany for two years in 1701-02. At the Battle of Cremona, in 1702, the Irishmen defended the town against Prince Eugene and the imperial army. The attack was to be a surprise but the Wild Geese foiled the attempt. The following year Lord Clare was promoted to brevet Brigadier of Infantry on 2 April 1703. A few months later on 20 September 1703, the unit took part in the successful Battle of Hochstedt, better known as the Battle of Blenheim
Battle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
and a year later was involved with the unsuccessful battle on 13 August 1704, at the second Battle of Blenheim. Although Clare’s Regiment experienced ups and downs, they were always admired. Two months after Blenheim, Charles rose to the brevet rank of Marshal-de-Camp on 26 October 1704, and a year later Lord Clare was assigned to the Army of the Moselle under the Marshel de Villars. Clare’s Regiment fought in the disastrous Battle of Ramillies
Battle of Ramillies
The Battle of Ramillies , fought on 23 May 1706, was a major engagement of the War of the Spanish Succession. For the Grand Alliance – Austria, England, and the Dutch Republic – the battle had followed an indecisive campaign against the Bourbon armies of King Louis XIV of France in 1705...
on 23 May 1706, where they distinguished themselves with great glory, but Lord Clare was mortally wounded and died at Brussels, Belgium.
Due to the great service the O'Brien family had given to France, and having risked all, King Louise XIV made sure that the regiment was kept in the family, and appointed Lt. Col. Murrough O'Brien (of the Carrigonnell O'Brien's) as its commander until the minor Charles came of age.
Children of Charles O'Brien and Charlotte Bulkeley
- Charles O'Brien, 6th Viscount ClareCharles O'Brien, 6th Viscount ClareCharles O'Brien, , 6th Viscount Clare was a Irish military officer in French service.Charles O'Brien was the son of Charles O'Brien, 5th Viscount Clare and Charlotte Bulkeley...
b. 27 Mar 1699, d. 9 Sep 1761.
- Henry O'Brien b. 12 Feb 1701.