Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/13

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CONYNGHAM.
9

in their church, whither in 1654 they translated his bones from their original place of interment at Madrid. A complete list of his works is to be found in Ware.



HENRY CONYNGHAM,

Was a brave and skilful general, who fell while heroically fighting the battles of his country. He was the second and only surviving son of Sir Albert Conyng ham who was slain in the tumults of 1705. In the memorable year of 1688 he held a captaincy in Lord Mountjoy's regiment of foot; and when the unfortunate James desired his army to shift for themselves, Captain Conyngham prevailed on five hundred of his regiment to remain united, and with these offered his services to King William. After the victory at the Boyne, his majesty ordered him to raise a regiment of dragoons, with liberty to nominate his own officers, and his commission beareth date February 1, 1692. He served in Parliament the same year for the borough of Killybeggs, and in 1695 and 1703 for the county of Donegall. On the 1st of January, 1704, he was advanced to the rank of major general, and ordered to Portugal. He was afterwards made governor of Lerida, and lieutenant-general of the King of Spain's army.

In 1705–6 with a small number of English, he defeated a very large body of French at St. Estevan's on the frontiers of Arragon; but in the action received a severe wound in the belly, which shortly afterwards proved mortal. He married Mary, daughter of Sir John Willyams of Carmarthenshire, Bart., by whom he left three sons and three daughters.

The following letter, containing an account of the death of General Conyngham, and the action in which he was engaged, is so interesting, that we cannot withhold it from our readers.