Robert Echlin (British Army officer)

Lieutenant-General Robert Echlin (c.1657 – c.1723) was an Irish officer of the British Army, who for many years commanded the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons. He also sat in the Irish House of Commons and the House of Commons of Great Britain. In later life, embittered by chronic poverty, lack of professional advancement and a failing military career, he espoused the Jacobite cause, and died in exile in France. He was the first owner of the famous Echlin Sword.

He was born at Ardquin, County Down, youngest son of Robert Echlin, and great-grandson of Robert Echlin, Bishop of Down and Connor from 1612 to 1635. His mother was Mary Leslie, daughter of Henry Leslie, Bishop of Meath and his wife Jane Swinton. His father died shortly after Robert's birth, and seems to have left his family in poverty.

Robert's elder brother Sir Henry Echlin repaired the family fortunes: after a successful career as a barrister and judge, ending with a term as second Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland), he was created the first of the Echlin baronets in 1721, and became a substantial landowner, with his principal seat at Clonagh Castle in County Kildare.

Robert for a time shared in his brother's prosperity, and acquired estates in County Monaghan, but he soon fell into difficulty and suffered years of financial embarrassment. By his own account, the fault for his financial problems lay entirely with the English Crown which regularly failed to pay his wages or offer him advancement: he claimed that for many years he paid his soldiers out of his own pocket, and that he was ultimately forced to sell his estates as a result. In 1712 he sought permission to retire: by January 1713 he was pleading with the English Government for justice, as he faced "utter ruin". It is very likely that his bitterness at what he saw as the Crown's gross ingratitude for his long years of loyal service was one of the principal factors in his going over to the Jacobite cause in 1715. Whether his brother Sir Henry gave him any financial help is unclear.

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