Meinhard, 3rd Duke of Schomberg

Meinhard Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg and Leinster, army officer, was buried in the Ormond vault at the east end of the Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey on 4th August 1719. His name was inscribed on the vaultstone in the 19th century but unfortunately this is now covered by a carpet in what is now the RAF chapel. He has no monument.

He was the second son of Frederic-Armand, Count of Schomberg, Duke and Marshal of France (who had come to England in 1673 and served as a general in the English army, being killed at the battle of the Boyne in 1690), and his wife Susanne D'Aumale. Meinhard, born in Cologne on 30th June 1641, followed his father to England, was naturalized and promoted to General in 1703. He received his Irish peerages in 1691 and his father's titles after the death of his brother Charles. He was Commander in Chief of all forces in England during the King's absence and also fought in Portugal. His second wife Caroline was buried in the Abbey on 11th July 1696, and their children Carolina (who died of smallpox) on 22nd June 1710 and Charles (who died unmarried) on 14th October 1713. Their other children were Frederica and Amelia. He is said to have had an illegitimate son Charles Sibourg.

His other titles were Marquis of Harwich and Coubert, Earl of Brentford and Bangor, Baron of Teyes and Tara, Count of the Holy Empire and Mertola, Grandee of Portugal and he was a member of the King's Privy Council and Knight of the Garter. He died at Hillingdon on 5th July 1719.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography