Richard Ingoldsby (died 1712)

Lieutenant General Richard Ingoldsby (died 1712) was an English general who enjoyed the regard of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and later played a role in the government of Ireland.

He was the son of Sir George Ingoldsby, a soldier who was killed during the Anglo-Dutch Wars; his mother, whose maiden name was Gould, was Irish. His father was a son of Sir Richard Ingoldsby of Lenborough in Buckinghamshire and Elizabeth Cromwell, aunt of Oliver Cromwell; his uncles were Richard Ingoldsby, the regicide and Sir Henry Ingoldsby, 1st Baronet.

He was commissioned in 1667, but little more is heard of him until 1692. Given his family's republican background, and his relationship to Oliver Cromwell, it was natural that he should welcome the Glorious Revolution. He was appointed colonel in 1692 and adjutant-general for the expedition against France. In 1693 he was appointed colonel of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and commanded them at the Siege of Namur. In 1696 he became a brigadier general.

He spent some time in Ireland, and was briefly imprisoned for his involvement in a duel between John Methuen, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and Thomas Fitzmaurice, 1st Earl of Kerry. King William III quickly ordered his release.

During the War of the Spanish Succession he became major general and then lieutenant general. He commanded a division under Marlborough 1702–6, and fought at the Battle of Schellenberg. At the Battle of Blenheim he was second in command of the first line under Charles Churchill. He became colonel of the Royal Irish Regiment in 1705. After 1707 he spent much of his time in Ireland, where he combined military and political office: he was commander of the Irish forces and Master of the Horse, and also sat in the Irish House of Commons as member for Limerick City. He was a Lord Justice of Ireland 1709–10; a letter from Marlborough makes clear that this was his doing and a sign of his personal regard.

Ingoldsby died in January 1712 and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral. He had one son, Richard, who also served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers.