William Blakeney

Lieutenant-General William Blakeney, 1st Baron Blakeney KB (1671/1672 – 10 September 1761) was an Irish soldier known for his unsuccessful defence of the Spanish island of Minorca following the Battle of Minorca in 1756.

Blakeney was born at Mount Blakeney, County Limerick, to William Blakeley (MP) in the Irish House of Commons for Kilmallock, and Elizabeth (née Bowerman).

Destined for politics, he showed a decided preference for a military career. At age 18, he headed the tenants in defending the Blakeney estate against the Rapparees. As a volunteer he fought the war in Flanders, and at the Siege of Venlo in 1702 won his commission. He served as a subaltern throughout Marlborough's campaigns, and is said to have been the first to drill troops by signal of drum or colour. Between 1725 and 1757, he represented Kilmallock in the Irish House of Commons.

For many years after the peace of Utrecht he served unnoticed, and was 65 years of age before he became a colonel. This neglect, which was said to be due to the hostility of Lord Verney, ceased when the Duke of Richmond was appointed colonel of Blakeney's regiment, and thenceforward his advance was rapid. Brigadier-general in the Cartagena expedition of 1741, and major-general a little later, he distinguished himself by his gallant and successful defence of Stirling Castle against the Highlanders in 1745. Two years later George II made him lieutenant-general and lieutenant-governor of Minorca.

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