Henry de Nassau, Lord Overkirk
| Henry de Nassau, Lord Overkirk | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
16 December 1640 The Hague, Netherlands |
| Died | 18 October 1708 (aged 67) Roselaere, Belgium |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars |
1674:Battle of Seneffe 1678: Battle of St. Denis 1690: Battle of the Boyne 1693: Battle of Neerwinden 1705:Battle of Elixheim 1706:Battle of Ramillies 1708:Battle of Oudenaarde 1708: Siege of Lille |
Henry, Count of Nassau, Lord of Overkirk (Dutch: Hendrik van Nassau-Ouwerkerk, French: Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque) (1640–18 October 1708) was a Dutch military general and second cousin of King William III of England and his Master of the Horse. Lord of Ouwerkerk and Woudenberg in the Netherlands, he was called by the English "Lord Overkirk" or "Count Overkirk".
Born in The Hague to Louis of Nassau-Beverweerd (illegitimate son of Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange) and his wife Isabella van Hoorn, Overkirk was baptised there on 16 December 1640. Granted the title Count of Nassau (graaf van Nassau) by the Emperor Leopold I in 1679, he joined William III's invasion of England in 1688, and was appointed the king's Master of the Horse the following year. He resided in London, notably at Overkirk House, which later became part of 10 Downing Street.
Overkirk was one of the Duke of Marlborough's most trusted generals, and led the left wing of Marlborough's army at both Ramillies and Oudenarde. He was made Field Marshal of the Dutch States Army in 1704.
Overkirk died on 18 October 1708 at Roeselare in modern-day Belgium and is buried the at Ouderkerk aan den IJssel, Netherlands. His widow continued to live at Overkirk House until her own death in 1720.
The future Lord Overkirk married Frances van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck (died 1720), daughter of Cornelius, Lord of Sommelsdijk, at The Hague on 2 October 1667. They had eight children, including five sons, of whom two married and had children.
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