Percy Kirk

In the west aisle of the north transept of Westminster Abbey is a monument to Lt. General the Honourable Percy (or Piercy) Kirk. The monument is by sculptor Peter Scheemakers and consists of a bust in armour between two winged putti and military trophies. The inscription reads:

Near this place lies interr'd the body of the Honble. Percy Kirk Esqr.[Esquire] Lieutenant Genl. of His Majestys Armys who died 1 Jan. MDCCXLI, aged LVII. He was son to the Honble. Percy Kirk Esqr. Lieutenant Genl. in the reign of King James II by the Lady Mary daughter to George Howard Earl of Suffolk. In the same grave lies the body of Diana Dormer daughter to John Dormer of Rousham in Oxfordshire Esqr. by Diana sister to the first mentioned Lieutenant Genl. Kirk, who being left sole heiress by her uncle order'd this monument to be erected to his memory. Death snatching her away before she could see her gratefull intentions executed she died Feb.XXII, A.D. MDCCXLIII, aged XXXII.

The coat of arms shows "a crozier and a sword in saltire, in chief a thistle" for Kirk. Percy was buried in the Abbey on 9th January 1741 and his niece Diana on 3rd March 1743.

Percy was born in 1683 the only surviving son of General Percy Kirk (d.1691) and his wife Lady Mary Howard (she was buried in St Margaret's church Westminster in 1707). His grandfather was George Kirk (or Kirke) (d.1675), groom of the bedchamber to James I and Charles I (also buried in St Margaret's). Young Percy took part in a raid on Vigo in Spain in 1702 and commanded his father's old regiment at the battle of Almanza. He also served in Canada and Gibraltar and died unmarried.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography