Sir Paul Pechell, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Paul Pechell, 1st Baronet (12 November 1724 – 13 January 1800), army
officer
, was a descendant of minor Huguenot
nobility
of Languedoc
(originally de Péchels). His grandfather had been ejected from France
following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes and ultimately settled in Ireland
, where Pechell was born.
Pechell entered the army as cornet
-en-seconde in the Royal Regiment of Dragoons in 1744, and was promoted captain
in Fleming's Regiment of Foot
in 1746. Wounded at Laffeld
in 1747 during the War of the Austrian Succession
, he received ‘the greatest commendation’ from the Duke of Cumberland.
In 1751, Pechell was gazetted captain in the 3rd Dragoon Guards
, and in the following spring his regiment escorted George II
to Harwich
to embark for Hanover. For the next three years the regiment was on coast duty suppressing smuggling in Suffolk
, Essex
, and Devon
and patrolling against highway robbers. Pechell was gazetted guidon
in the Second Troop of Horse Grenadier Guards
in 1754, and was promoted to captain in 1755, major
in 1759, and lieutenant-colonel in 1762. He retired from the army
in 1768, receiving a lump sum for his commission.
He married in 1752 Mary, only daughter and heir of Thomas Brooke, of Paglesham
, Essex
; they had two sons and five daughters. Pechell was created a baronet
on 1 March 1797, and died in 1800. His eldest son, Major-General Sir Thomas Brooke-Pechell, 2nd Baronet (1753–1826), was father of Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel John Brooke-Pechell, 3rd Baronet (1785–1849), and of Admiral
Sir George Richard Brooke-Pechell, 4th Baronet (1789–1860).
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, was a descendant of minor Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
of Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
(originally de Péchels). His grandfather had been ejected from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes and ultimately settled in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, where Pechell was born.
Pechell entered the army as cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
-en-seconde in the Royal Regiment of Dragoons in 1744, and was promoted captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in Fleming's Regiment of Foot
36th (Herefordshire) Regiment of Foot
The 36th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1701 and amalgamated into The Worcestershire Regiment in 1881...
in 1746. Wounded at Laffeld
Battle of Lauffeld
The Battle of Lauffeld, also known as the Battle of Lafelt or Battle of Maastricht, also Battle of Val, took place on 2 July 1747, during the French invasion of the Netherlands. It was part of the War of the Austrian Succession...
in 1747 during the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
, he received ‘the greatest commendation’ from the Duke of Cumberland.
In 1751, Pechell was gazetted captain in the 3rd Dragoon Guards
3rd Dragoon Guards
The 3rd Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 3rd/6th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
, and in the following spring his regiment escorted George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
to Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
to embark for Hanover. For the next three years the regiment was on coast duty suppressing smuggling in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, and Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and patrolling against highway robbers. Pechell was gazetted guidon
Guidon
Guidon may refer to:*Guidon , a type of heraldic flag*Guidon , a swallow tailed flag for the colours of a light cavalry regiment...
in the Second Troop of Horse Grenadier Guards
Life Guards (British Army)
The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
in 1754, and was promoted to captain in 1755, major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1759, and lieutenant-colonel in 1762. He retired from the army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1768, receiving a lump sum for his commission.
He married in 1752 Mary, only daughter and heir of Thomas Brooke, of Paglesham
Paglesham
Paglesham is situated in the north east of the Rochford Rural District, Essex. The Parish of Paglesham includes two hamlets of East End and Church End, which are situated near the River Crouch and Paglesham Creek. It is part of the Roach Valley Conservation Zone.At the East End is The Plough and...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
; they had two sons and five daughters. Pechell was created a baronet
Pechell Baronets
The Pechell, later Brooke-Pechell, later Pechell Baronetcy, of Paglesham in the County of Essex, was a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 1 March 1797 for Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Pechell, a retired army officer of Huguenot descent...
on 1 March 1797, and died in 1800. His eldest son, Major-General Sir Thomas Brooke-Pechell, 2nd Baronet (1753–1826), was father of Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel John Brooke-Pechell, 3rd Baronet (1785–1849), and of Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir George Richard Brooke-Pechell, 4th Baronet (1789–1860).