View source for Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg

{{short description|German-born military officer and peer}}
{{Other uses|Schomberg (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Grace (style)|His Grace]] 
| name             = The Duke of Schomberg
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KG}}
| image            = John Baptist de Medina (1659-1710) (attributed to) - Meinhard Schomberg (1641–1719), Duke of Leinster and 3rd Duke of Schomberg - 1220970 - National Trust.jpg
| office           = [[Commander-in-Chief of the Forces]]
| term_start       = 1691
| term_end         = 1691
| monarch          = [[William III of England|William III]]
| predecessor      = [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|The Earl of Marlborough]]
| successor        = [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|The Duke of Marlborough]]
| birth_date       = 30 June 1641
| birth_place      = [[Cologne]], [[Holy Roman Empire]]
| death_date       = 16 July 1719 (aged 78)
| death_place      = [[Hillingdon]], [[Middlesex]]
| spouse           = Barbara Luisa Rizzi (m. 1667) <br /> [[Raugravine Caroline Elisabeth]] (m. 1682)
| children         = 4, including [[Charles Schomberg, Marquess of Harwich|Charles]] and [[Frederica Mildmay, Countess of Mértola|Frederica]]
| parents          = [[Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg]] <br /> Johanna Elizabeth de Schomberg
| profession       = Military officer
| awards           = [[Order of the Garter|Knight of the Garter]]
| allegiance       = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of England}} (1689–1707) <br /> {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Great Britain}} (1707–1719)
| branch           = {{army|Kingdom of England}} (1689–1707) <br /> {{army|Kingdom of Great Britain}} (1707–1719)
| rank             = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
| battles     = {{tree list}} 
* [[Portuguese Restoration War]]
* [[Franco-Dutch War]]
* [[Williamite War in Ireland]]
* [[War of the Spanish Succession]]
{{tree list/end}}
}}

[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] '''Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg, 1st Duke of Leinster''', [[Order of the Garter|KG]] (30 June 1641 – {{OldStyleDate|16 July|1719|5 July}}), was a German-born military officer and peer who served as [[Commander-in-Chief of the Forces]] in 1691. He spent the majority of his military career in service to [[William III of England]], fighting in the [[Portuguese Restoration War]], [[Franco-Dutch War]], [[Williamite War in Ireland]] and the [[War of the Spanish Succession]].

==Life==
Born the son of [[Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg]] (who was of [[Huguenot]] descent), and Johanna Elizabeth de Schomberg (née von Schönberg), Meinhardt Schomberg joined his father in the service of the [[English Expedition to Portugal (1662-1668)|English Expeditionary brigade to Portugal]] and served as a [[lieutenant-colonel]] and then as a [[colonel]].<ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24825?docPos=9 |title=Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/24825|access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> He then settled in [[La Rochelle]] with his father and became a [[France|French]] subject.<ref name=odnb/> He attained the rank of [[brigadier]] and, afterwards, [[maréchal de camp]] (major general), during the [[Franco-Dutch War]] in 1678.<ref name=odnb/> He fought under Marshal [[François de Créquy]] at the Battle of Kochersburg in October 1677, the [[Siege of Freiburg (1677)|Battle of Freiburg im Breisgau]] on 14 November 1677, at the Battle of Rheinfelden in July 1678 and at the Battle of Kinzing later that month, before serving under [[Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg]] as a general of cavalry.<ref name=odnb/>

He travelled to [[England]] in Spring 1689 and was made colonel of [[7th Dragoon Guards|Lord Cavendish's Regiment of Horse]] on 10 April 1690<ref name=empire>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishcavalry/7dg.htm|title=7th Dragoon Guards|publisher=British Empire|access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> and [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] a general of the horse on 19 April 1690.<ref name=odnb/>

He served under his father during the [[Williamite War in Ireland]], fighting against the [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] [[Irish Army (Kingdom of Ireland)|Irish Army]]. Frederick Schomberg was second in command of William's army at the [[Battle of the Boyne]] in July 1690.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grandorangelodge.co.uk/parades/schomberg_house.html|title=Schomberg House|publisher=The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland|access-date=13 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903060354/http://www.grandorangelodge.co.uk/parades/schomberg_house.html|archive-date=3 September 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, Meinhardt Schomberg commanded the right wing of William's army during the battle and led the crucial crossing of the [[River Boyne]] at Roughgrange near [[Rosnaree]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rossnaree.ie/history|title=Rosnaree: history|access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> on the [[Jacobitism|Jacobites]]' flank, the turning point in the confrontation, despite a gallant defence by Sir [[Neil O'Neill]], a Jacobite general.<ref name=electric>{{cite web|url=http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ulster/vol4chap7.htm|title=The Battle of the Boyne|publisher=Electric Scotland|access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> Schomberg then engaged in a pursuit of the retreating troops towards [[Duleek]]:<ref name=electric/> there were no casualties amongst his regiment's soldiers.<ref name=empire/> Schomberg's father died during the latter stages of the Battle which resulted in a decisive [[Williamite]] victory.<ref name=empire/>

{{anchor|Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg#Naturalization of Meinhardt, Duke of Leinster Act 1691}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Naturalization of Meinhardt, Duke of Leinster Act 1691
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of England
| long_title            = An Act for naturalizing of Mainhardt Duke of Leinster, and others.
| year                  = 1691
| citation              = 3 Will. & Mar. c. ''24'' {{Small|Pr.}}
| territorial_extent    = [[England and Wales]]
| royal_assent          = 24 February 1692
| commencement          = 22 October 1691{{efn|Start of session.}}
| repeal_date           = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Current
| original_text         = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
Meinhardt Schomberg was created '''[[Duke of Leinster]]''' for his part in the Battle on 30 June 1690<ref name=noble180>Noble, p.180</ref> and, after taking part in the abortive [[Siege of Limerick (1690)|Siege of Limerick]] in August 1690, he became a British subject through naturalization by Act of Parliament on 25 April 1691.<ref>Cruickshank, p.498</ref> From May 1691 he was also made [[Commander-in-Chief of the Forces]] during the King's travels in [[Flanders]].<ref name=noble180/> In Spring 1693 Schomberg was placed in command of the abortive descent on [[Saint-Malo]] and in October 1693 he inherited the title of '''Duke of Schomberg''' following the death of his younger brother [[Charles Schomberg, 2nd Duke of Schomberg|Charles Schomberg]] at the [[Battle of Marsaglia]].<ref name=odnb/> In 1698 he moved into [[Schomberg House]], a new mansion specially commissioned for him on the south side of [[Pall Mall, London|Pall Mall]], [[London]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage-explorer.co.uk/web/he/searchdetail.aspx?id=8372&start=1&crit=artist|title=Schomberg House, Pall Mall, Westminster, Greater London|publisher=Heritage Explorer|access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref>

In 1703, he was created [[Order of the Garter|Knight of the Garter]]<ref name=knights>{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanheraldry.org/knights_1714.html|title=Knights of the Garter at the accession of George I in 1714|publisher=European Heraldry|access-date=13 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429015515/http://www.europeanheraldry.org/knights_1714.html|archive-date=29 April 2012}}</ref> and [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] appointed him Commander-in-Chief of the British forces sent to Portugal for the [[War of the Spanish Succession]].<ref name=noble180/> Once in Portugal Schomberg was ineffective, simply allowing the Spanish General [[Alberto Octavio Tserclaes de Tilly|Tserclaes de Tilly]] to pass by unchallenged.<ref name=odnb/> Moreover, Schomberg had a dreadful temper which attracted universal disgust: neither [[Peter II of Portugal|Peter II]], King of Portugal, nor [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles]], claimant to the throne of Spain, were prepared to accept his turbulent behaviour and he was sent home in disgrace.<ref name=noble180/>

Meinhardt Schomberg had an interest in naval matters and registered a [[patent]] concerning inspecting the fishing for wrecks.<ref>Shaw, p.509-518</ref> He commissioned the construction of [[Hillingdon House]] in 1717 as his hunting lodge<ref>Sherwood, p.97</ref> and died there on {{OldStyleDate|16 July|1719|5 July}}.<ref name=odnb/> He had no surviving male issue so all of his titles (Duke of Schomberg, Duke of Leinster, Marquess of Harwich, Earl of Brentford, Earl of Bangor, Baron Teyes and Count of Mértola)<ref name=knights/> except Count of Mértola died with him.<ref name=noble180/>

The town of [[Schomberg, Ontario]] was renamed to commemorate the 3rd Duke of Schomberg in 1862.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ruralroutes.com/6609.html|title=Schomberg|publisher=Rural Routes|access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref>

==Family==
[[File:Hillingdon House - June 2011.jpg|thumb|Schomberg had Hillingdon House built in 1717]]
On 3 August 1667 Schomberg married [[Piedmont]]ese Barbara Luisa Rizzi in [[La Rochelle]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Biography of Meinrad II von Schoenburg, 1st Duke of Leinster, etc. (1641-1719) |url=http://brigittegastelancestry.com/royal/bio/meinrad2schoenburgbio.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923065223/http://brigittegastelancestry.com/royal/bio/meinrad2schoenburgbio.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=23 September 2022 |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=brigittegastelancestry.com}}</ref> The couple did not have any children,<ref name=odnb/> although some sources suggest that shortly after the marriage he abandoned his wife when she was seven months pregnant after she refused to divorce.<ref name=":0" />

On 4 January 1682 Schomberg married for the second time, to [[Raugravine Caroline Elisabeth]] (a daughter of [[Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine]]) and together they had four children:<ref name=odnb/>
* [[Charles Schomberg, Marquess of Harwich|Charles Louis Schomberg, Marquess of Harwich]] (15 December 1683 – 14 October 1713), died from [[tuberculosis]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=5162|page=2|date=6 October 1713}}</ref>
* Lady Caroline Schomberg (1686 – 18 June 1710)
* [[Frederica Mildmay, Countess of Mértola|Lady Frederica Schomberg]] (c. 1688–1751) married (1) [[Robert Darcy, 3rd Earl of Holderness]], and (2) [[Benjamin Mildmay, 1st Earl FitzWalter]]
* Lady Mary Schomberg (bap. 16 March 1692 – 29 April 1762) married Christoph Martin von Degenfeld-Schonburg
{{clear}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book|title=The House of Commons, 1690–1715, Volume 1|last=Cruickshank|first=Eveline|publisher=Cambridge|year=2002|isbn= 0-521-77221-4}}
*{{cite book|title=A biographical history of England, from the Revolution to the end of George I's reign|publisher=W. Richardson|last=Noble|first=Mark|year=1806|url=https://archive.org/details/abiographicalhi02noblgoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/abiographicalhi02noblgoog/page/n191 179]|quote=Meinhardt schomberg.}}
*{{cite book|title=Index of persons and Places: S', Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 14: 1698–1699|last=Shaw|first=William|year=1934| url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=83036}}
*{{cite book|title=Around Uxbridge Past & Present |last=Sherwood |first=Philip |year=2007 |publisher=Sutton Publishing |location=Stroud |isbn=978-0-7509-4794-7}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
|-
{{s-bef | before=[[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|The Earl of Marlborough]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Commander-in-Chief of the Forces]] | years=1691}}
{{s-vac | next=[[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|The Duke of Marlborough]]}}
|-
{{s-reg|ie}}
{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-ttl| title=[[Duke of Leinster]]| years=1691–1719}}
{{s-non|reason=Extinct}}
{{s-reg|en}}
{{s-bef| before=[[Charles Schomberg, 2nd Duke of Schomberg|Charles Schomberg]]}}
{{s-ttl| title=[[Duke of Schomberg]]  | years=1693–1719 }}
{{s-non|reason=Extinct}}
{{s-reg|pt}}
{{succession box | title=[[Count of Mértola]] | before=[[Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg|Frederick Schomberg]] | after=[[Frederica Mildmay, Countess of Mértola|Frederica Darcy]] | years=1690–1719}}
{{s-end}}

{{Chief of the General Staff}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schomberg, Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke Of}}

[[Category:1641 births]]
[[Category:1719 deaths]]
[[Category:English generals]]
[[Category:British Army generals]]
[[Category:Counts of Mértola]]
[[Category:English people of German descent]]
[[Category:Dukes of Schomberg|103]]
[[Category:Dukes of Leinster|101]]
[[Category:Peers of Ireland created by William III]]
[[Category:Garter Knights appointed by Anne]]
[[Category:Williamite military personnel of the Williamite War in Ireland]]
[[Category:Dutch generals]]