Toby Purcell or Tobias Purcell was an Irish soldier in the

Williamite War in Ireland The Williamite War in Ireland (1688–1691; ga, Cogadh an Dá Rí, "war of the two kings"), was a conflict between Jacobite supporters of deposed monarch James II and Williamite supporters of his successor, William III. It is also called the ...

. He served in the forces of William of Orange during the conflict. Purcell was in command of the garrison of

Newry Newry (; ) is a city in Northern Ireland, divided by the Clanrye river in counties Armagh and Down, from Belfast and from Dublin. It had a population of 26,967 in 2011. Newry was founded in 1144 alongside a Cistercian monastery, although ...

in 1689, when it was attacked by a Jacobite force led by the French General the Marquis de Boisseleau. Purcell was present at the

Battle of the Boyne The Battle of the Boyne ( ga, Cath na Bóinne ) was a battle in 1690 between the forces of the deposed King James II of England and Ireland, VII of Scotland, and those of King William III who, with his wife Queen Mary II (his cousin and J ...

the following year. In 1691 he was appointed to the

Colonelcy Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

of the

23rd Foot The Royal Welch Fusiliers ( cy, Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, and part of the Prince of Wales' Division, that was founded in 1689; shortly after the Glorious Revolution. In 1702, it was designate ...

, but had to resign due to ill health.Glover & Riley p.19 He was made Governor of Cork in 1692. After the war he petitioned King William for confirmation of lands awarded to him in

County Tipperary County Tipperary ( ga, Contae Thiobraid Árann) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. The county is named afte ...

. In 1698 he was made

Governor of Duncannon Fort The Governor of Duncannon Fort was a military officer who commanded the garrison at Duncannon in County Wexford. In later years the post became a sinecure and was abolished on the death of the last holder in 1835. List of governors * Sir Cary ...

after the removal of Sir James Jeffreys, and held the position until 1711.

References

Bibliography

* Childs, John. ''The Williamite War in Ireland, 1688-1691''. Continuum, 2007. * Glover, Michael & Riley, Jonathan. ''That Astonishing Infantry': The History of The Royal Welch Fusiliers 1689-2006''. Pen and Sword, 2007. {{DEFAULTSORT:Purcell, Toby Irish soldiers Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown Williamite military personnel of the Williamite War in Ireland