Francis Palmes

Lieutenant-General Francis Palmes (died 1719) was a noted favourite general of the Duke of Marlborough. He served in Lord Cavendish's Regiment of Horse and Hugh Wyndham's Regiment of Carabiniers, eventually rising to become lieutenant-colonel of the latter regiment. He fought at the Battle of Blenheim in command of a brigade. Often employed as a diplomatic envoy as well as a soldier, Palmes died at Dresden in 1719. Early life Palmes was the second son of Francis Palmes of Carcraig and Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Thomas Taylor of Ballyport, County Limerick. The Palmes family of Carcraig was a cadet branch of the Palmes family of Naburn. Military career Palmes began a lengthy military career shortly after the Revolution, being granted a captain's commission in Lord Cavendish's Regiment of Horse on 31 December 1688. He served in Ireland through the 1690s, becoming lieutenant-colonel of Hugh Wyndham's Regiment of Carabiniers on 2 January 1694. He saw service during the War of the Spanish Succession. The Duke of Marlborough recommended Palmes for appointment to the rank of brigadier-general. On 1 January 1704 he was promoted to this rank, having already been commissioned as a brevet colonel of horse on 1 July 1702. Palmes commanded a brigade as well as his regiment at the Battle of Blenheim, Wyndham himself serving in Portugal and being unable to lead the regiment. Reports from the battle state that 'hardly anyone was more instrumental to the success of that day' than Palmes.