View source for Commander-in-Chief, Ireland

{{Short description|Commander of British Forces in Ireland before 1922}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Commander-in-Chief, Ireland,''' was title of the commander of the British forces in Ireland before 1922. Until the [[Act of Union (1800)|Act of Union]] in 1800, the position involved command of the distinct [[Irish Army (Kingdom of Ireland)|Irish Army]] of the [[Kingdom of Ireland]].

==History==
===Marshal of Ireland===
The title Marshal of Ireland was awarded to [[William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke]] after the [[Norman conquest of Ireland]] and was inherited by his nephew John Marshal and descendants. This hereditary ceremonial title is latterly called [[Earl Marshal of Ireland]] to distinguish it from the later non-hereditary military appointment of Marshal of Ireland or Marshal of the Army. Holders of the latter appointment by [[letters patent]] included:<ref>{{multiref|
{{cite book |last1=Hughes |first1=James L. J. |url=https://www.irishmanuscripts.ie/digital/Patentee%20Officers%20In%20Ireland%201173-1826.pdf |title=Patentee Officers in Ireland, 1173–1826: Including High Sheriffs, 1661–1684 and 1761–1816 |date=1960 |publisher=Stationery Office |via=Irish Manuscripts Commission |location=Dublin |language=en}} citing|
{{cite book |first=Rowley |last=Lascelles |title=Liber Munerum Publicorum Hiberniae or The Establishments of Ireland |publisher=Irish Record Commissioners |date=1852 |pages=II 109–111; VII 150}}
}}</ref>

{{incomplete list|date=November 2022}}
* William Brereton (1540)<ref>{{multiref|
{{Cite DNBSupp |wstitle = Brereton, William |volume= 1 |last= Pollard |first= Albert Frederick |author-link= Albert Frederick Pollard | pages = 264 |short=1}}|
{{cite web |last1=Beresford |first1=David |title=Brereton, William |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/brereton-william-a0942 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |access-date=8 November 2022 |language=en}}
}}</ref>
* Sir [[Francis Bryan]] (November 1548)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beresford |first1=David |title=Bryan, Sir Francis |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/bryan-sir-francis-a1085 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |access-date=8 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* Sir [[Nicholas Bagenal]] (March 1547–1553; October 1565–October 1590) In 1553 deprived by [[Mary I of England|Mary I]]. In 1566 failed to sell the office to [[Thomas Stukley]]<ref name="dib-a0305">{{cite web |last1=Hawkins |first1=Richard |title=Bagenal (Bagnal(l)), Sir Nicholas |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/bagenal-bagnall-sir-nicholas-a0305 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Clavin |first1=Terry |last2=Barry |first2=Judy |title=Stukeley (Stucley), Thomas |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/stukeley-stucley-thomas-a8365 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |access-date=8 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex]] (1569 "high marshal"; 1576 "earl marshal" for life)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clavin |first1=Terry |title=Devereux, Walter |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/devereux-walter-a2554 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |access-date=8 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> 
* [[Henry Bagenal]] (from 24 October 1590) son of Nicholas, secured the succession in 1583<ref name="dib-a0305"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hawkins |first1=Richard |title=Bagenal (Bagnal(l)), Sir Henry |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/bagenal-bagnall-sir-henry-a0304 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |access-date=8 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* Sir [[Richard Bingham (soldier)|Richard Bingham]] (1598)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hawkins |first1=Richard |title=Bingham (Byngham), Sir Richard |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/bingham-byngham-sir-richard-a0665 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |access-date=8 November 2022 |language=en |publisher=Royal Irish Academy}}</ref>
* [[Edward Conway, 2nd Viscount Conway]] (31 January 1640; patent 2 April 1640)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Armstrong |first1=Robert |title=Conway, Edward |url=https://www.dib.ie/index.php/biography/conway-edward-a1980 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |access-date=8 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Sir Henry Tichborne]] (1660)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clavin |first1=Terry |title=Tichbourne (Tichborne), Sir Henry |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/tichbourne-tichborne-sir-henry-a8553 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |access-date=8 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

===From 1700===
In the 18th and 19th centuries the British forces in Ireland were commanded by the Commander-in-Chief, Ireland. In January 1876 a ‘Mobilization Scheme for the forces in Great Britain and Ireland’ was published, with the ‘Active Army’ divided into eight army corps based on the District Commands. [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|4th Corps]] was to be formed within Irish Command, based in [[Dublin]]. This scheme disappeared in 1881, when the districts were retitled ‘District Commands.<ref>''Army List'' 1876–1881.</ref>

The 1901 Army Estimates introduced by [[St John Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton|St John Brodrick]] allowed for six army corps based on six regional commands. As outlined in a paper published in 1903, [[III Corps (United Kingdom)|III Corps]] was to be formed in a reconstituted Irish Command, with headquarters at Dublin.<ref>Col John K. Dunlop, ''The Development of the British Army 1899–1914'', London: Methuen, 1938.</ref> Field Marshal [[Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn|The Duke of Connaught]] was appointed acting [[General Officer Commanding|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (GOCinC) of III Corps in October 1901.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27360 |date=1 October 1901 |page=6400}}</ref> The title was withdrawn in 1904.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27676|page=3083|date=13 May 1904}}</ref>

Army Order No 324, issued on 21 August 1914, authorised the formation of a 'New Army' of six Divisions, manned by volunteers who had responded to [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Earl Kitchener]]'s appeal (hence the First New Army was known as 'K1'). Each division was to be under the administration of one of the Home Commands, and Irish Command formed what became the [[10th (Irish) Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/10div.htm|title=10th Division|publisher= The long, long trail|access-date=14 December 2015}}</ref> It was followed by [[16th (Irish) Division]] of K2 in September 1914.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/16div.htm|title=16th Division|publisher= The long, long trail|access-date=14 December 2015}}</ref>

In the [[Republic of Ireland]], the "supreme command of the [[Defence Forces (Ireland)|Defence Forces]]" is formally vested in the [[President of Ireland]] under the [[Constitution of Ireland|Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitution of Ireland |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html#article13_4 |website=electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) |access-date=25 November 2022 |pages=Article 13.4 |no-pp=y |language=en}}</ref> The [[Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces (Ireland)|Chief of Staff]] is the senior officer. In Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2009, the senior British military appointment was [[Headquarters Northern Ireland|General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland]].<ref name=commands>{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201860-.pdf |title=Army Commands |access-date=21 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112744/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201860-.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>

==Commanders-in-Chief, Ireland, 1700–1922==
Holders of the post have included:<ref name=commands/><ref>[http://www.regiments.org/biography/defchiefs/ieCinC.htm List of Commander-in-Chief Ireland] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418020200/http://www.regiments.org/biography/defchiefs/ieCinC.htm |date=April 18, 2007 }}</ref>
*Lieutenant General [[Thomas Erle]] 1701–1705<ref>Paula Watson and David Wilkinson, [http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/erle-thomas-1650-1720 ERLE, Thomas (c.1650–1720), of Charborough, Dorset] in [[The History of Parliament]] Online. Accessed 19 February 2013.</ref>
*Lieutenant General [[John Cutts, 1st Baron Cutts|Lord Cutts]] 1705– January 1707;
*Lieutenant General [[Richard Ingoldsby (died 1712)|Richard Ingoldsby]] February 1707–January 1712;<ref>{{cite ODNB |last1=Chichester|first1=Ferguson Kenneth |title=Ingoldsby, Richard (1664/5–1712) |date=2004 |edition=Online |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/14412 }}</ref>   
*General [[William Steuart (Scottish soldier)|William Steuart]] 1711–1714
*Lieutenant General [[Charles O'Hara, 1st Baron Tyrawley|Lord Tyrawley]] 1714–1721
*Field Marshal [[Richard Boyle, 2nd Viscount Shannon|Lord Shannon]] 1721–1740
*Lieutenant-General [[Owen Wynne (1665–1737)|Owen Wynne]] in 1728
*General [[Gervais Parker]] 1740–1750
*Field Marshal [[Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth|Viscount Molesworth]] 1751–1758
*General [[John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes|Lord Rothes]] 1758–1767
*Lieutenant General [[William Keppel (British Army officer)|William Keppel]] 1773–1774
*General [[George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield|George Augustus Eliott]] 1774–1775
*General [[John Irwin (British Army officer)|Sir John Irwin]] 1775–1782
*Lieutenant-General [[John Burgoyne]] 1782–1784
*Lieutenant-General [[William Augustus Pitt|Sir William Augustus Pitt]] 1784–1791
*Lieutenant-General [[George Warde]] 1791–1793
*General [[Robert Cuninghame, 1st Baron Rossmore|Robert Cuninghame]] 1793–1796
*Lieutenant-General [[Henry Luttrell, 2nd Earl of Carhampton|Lord Carhampton]] 1796–1797
*Lieutenant-General [[Ralph Abercromby|Sir Ralph Abercromby]] 1797–1798
*Lieutenant-General [[Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake|Gerard Lake]] 1798
*General [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|Lord Cornwallis]] 1798–1801
*General [[William Medows|Sir William Medows]] 1801–1803
*Lieutenant-General [[Henry Edward Fox]] 1803
*Lieutenant-General [[William Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart|Lord Cathcart]] 1803–1805
*Lieutenant-General [[Sir John Floyd, 1st Baronet|John Floyd]] 1805
*General [[Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington|Lord Harrington]] 1805–1812
*Lieutenant-General [[John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun|Sir John Hope]] 1812–1813
*General [[Sir George Hewett, 1st Baronet|Sir George Hewett]] 1813–1816
*General [[George Beckwith (British Army officer)|Sir George Beckwith]] 1816–1820
*General [[Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet|Sir David Baird]] 1820–1822
*General [[Samuel Auchmuty (British Army officer)|Sir Samuel Auchmuty]] 1822
*Field Marshal [[Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere|Lord Combermere]] 1822–1825
*General [[George Murray (British Army officer)|Sir George Murray]] 1825–1828
*Field Marshal [[John Byng, 1st Earl of Strafford|Lord Strafford]] 1828–1831
*Lieutenant-General [[Hussey Vivian, 1st Baron Vivian|Lord Vivian]] 1831–1836
*Field Marshal [[Edward Blakeney|Sir Edward Blakeney]] 1836–1855
*Field Marshal [[John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton|Lord Seaton]] 1855–1860
*General [[George Brown (British Army officer)|Sir George Brown]] 1860–1865
*Field Marshal [[Hugh Rose, 1st Baron Strathnairn|Lord Strathnairn]] 1865–1870
*General [[William Mansfield, 1st Baron Sandhurst|Lord Sandhurst]] 1870–1875
*Field Marshal [[John Michel|Sir John Michel]] 1875–1880
*General [[Thomas Montagu Steele|Sir Thomas Steele]] 1880–1885
*Field Marshal [[Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar]] 1885–1890
*Field Marshal [[Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley|Lord Wolseley]] 1890–1895
*Field Marshal [[Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts|Lord Roberts]] 1895–1900
*Field Marshal [[Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn|The Duke of Connaught]] 1900–1904<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27154 |date=16 January 1900 |page=289 }}</ref>
*Field Marshal [[Francis Grenfell, 1st Baron Grenfell|Lord Grenfell]] 1904–1908
*General [[Neville Lyttelton|Sir Neville Lyttelton]] 1908–1912
*General [[Arthur Henry Fitzroy Paget|Sir Arthur Paget]] 1912–1914
*Major-General [[Lovick Friend|Sir Lovick Friend]] 1914–1916
*General [[John Maxwell (British Army officer)|Sir John Maxwell]] 1916
*Lieutenant-General [[Bryan Mahon|Sir Bryan Mahon]] 1916–1918
*Lieutenant-General Sir [[Frederick Shaw (British Army officer)|Frederick Shaw]] 1918–1920
*General [[Nevil Macready|Sir Nevil Macready]] 1920–1922

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Commanders-in-Chief, Ireland| ]]
[[Category:Senior appointments of the British Army]]