Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bragg, Philip
BRAGG, PHILIP (d. 1760), lieutenant-general, colonel 28th foot, M.P. for Armagh, was at Blenheim a an ensign the 1st foot guards, his commission bearing date 10 March 1702. He appears to have afterward served in the 24th foot, which was much distinguished in all Marlborough's subsequent campaigns under the command of Colonel Gilbert Primrose, who came from the same regiment of guards. The English records of this period contain no reference to Bragg, but in a set of Irish military entry-books, commencing in 1713, which are preserved in the Four Courts, Dublin, his name appears as captain in Primrose's regiment, lately returned from Holland to Ireland; his commission is here dated 1 June 1715, on which day new commissions were issued to all officers in the regiment in consequence of the accession of George I. On 12 June 1732 Bragg was appointed master of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, in succession to Major-general Robert Stearne, deceased, and on 16 Dec. following he became lieutenant-colonel of Colonel Robert Hargreave's regiment, afterwards known as the 31st foot. On 10 Oct. 1734 he succeeded Major-general Nicholas Price as colonel of the 28th foot, an appointment which he held for twenty-five years, and which originated the name 'The Old Braggs,' by which that regiment was long popularly known. As a brigadier-general Bragg accompanied Lord Stair to Flanders, where he commanded a brigade. He became a lieutenant-general in 1747, and in 1751 was appointed to the staff in Ireland. He died at Dublin, at an advanced age, on 6 June 1759. leaving the bulk of his small fortune of 7,000l. to Lord George Sackville.
[Hamilton's Hist. Gren. Guards, vol. iii. (London. 1874); Treasury Papars, xciii. List of Recipients of Queen's Bounty for Blenheim; Irish Military Entry Books in Public Record Office, Dublin; Gent. Mag. xii. 108, xiii. 190, xv. 389, xvii. 496. xxi. 477, xxix. 293; De la Warr MSS. in Hist. MSS. Comm. 4th Rep.]