Robert Ramsay (Jacobite)

Robert Ramsay (died 1689) was a Scottish Jacobite soldier noted for his service during the Williamite War in Ireland. A Roman Catholic and veteran of the "French Brigade" which served in the Third Anglo-Dutch War under the Duke of Monmouth, Ramsay held the post of Adjutant-General of Foot in the English Army prior to the deposition of James II in the 1688 Glorious Revolution.

He reached the rank of Brigadier in the Irish Army.[1] He seems have been the "Colonel Ramsey" that went north with Major-General Jean Camus, Marquis de Pusignan, after the arrival of James II at Dublin.[2] During the Siege of Derry he took part in a Jacobite attempt to seize Windmill Hill,[3] and was killed there.[4][5] His loss was a major blow to the Jacobites as he was appreciated as one of the best officers in the army.[6] He was buried at Long Tower where the Catholic Long Tower Church is now.[7]

His surname is sometimes spelled Ramsey. He is occasionally confused with his kinsman George Ramsay, 3rd son of the 2nd Earl of Dalhousie, who served in the Scots Brigade of the Dutch Republic.

Notes
  1. Childs 2007, p. 86: "Brigadier Robert Ramsay"
  2. D'Alton 1855, p. 950: "On the 14th of April following, when King James in his northern march came to Omagh, he found Pusignan's infantry there, left under the command of Colonel Ramsey;"
  3. Childs 2007, p. 99: "Before Derry, on the night of 5–6 May Brigadier Ramsay drove the guards out of a small earthwork built during Lundy's governorship and occupied Windmill Hill."
  4. Witherow 1879, p. 128: "Brigadier Ramsay, in an attempt to rally his men and bring them up again to renew the encounter, was slain."
  5. Walker 1882, p. 93: "Brigadeer General Ramsey"
  6. Doherty 1998, p. 64: "... and Brigadier Ramsey, a very competent officer, was killed."
  7. Hempton 1861, p. 282: "Brigadier Ramsay was interred at the Long Tower, and much lamented by all who know him, for he was reckoned the best soldier in the army next to Colonel Richard Hamilton."

References
  • Childs, John (2007), The Williamite Wars in Ireland 1688–1691, London: Hambledon Continuum Press, ISBN 978-1-85285-573-4 – Preview
  • Doherty, Richard (1998), The Williamite War in Ireland, Dublin: Four Courts, ISBN 1-85182-375-1 – Snippet view
  • D'Alton, John (1855), Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical, of King James' Irish Army List 1689, Dublin: D'Alton
  • Hempton, John, ed. (1861), The Siege and History of Londonderry, Londonderry: John Hempton
  • Witherow, Thomas (1879), Derry and Enniskillen in the Year 1689, London & Belfast: William Mallan & Son
  • Walker, Rev. George (1882), Reprint of Walker's Diary of the Siege of Derry in 1688–89, Londonderry: James Hempton


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