Marshal of France and one of the greatest soldiers of the 18th century.
Background
He was born James Fitzjames at Moulins, France, on Aug. 21, 1670, the illegitimate son of James, Duke of York, who later became King James II of England, and Arabella Churchill, sister of John Churchill, subsequently Duke of Marlborough. On June 12, 1733, he was killed while fighting in the trenches during the siege of Philippsburg.
Career
His father was determined to make him a soldier, and at the age of 16 he was sent off to serve as a volunteer in the French army that was fighting the Turks in Hungary. His father became king of England in 1685 and created him duke of Berwick in 1687. When Berwick returned to England in 1688 he was made governor of Portsmouth and colonel of the Royal House Guards. It was his victory at the battle of Almanza in 1707 that established the House of Bourbon on the Spanish throne. From then until the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 he served with equal success on the Franco-Italian frontier, on the Rhine, and in the Low Countries. When war broke out between France and Spain in 1719, Berwick was appointed commander in chief of the French army and soon ended the hostilities successfully. He also proved himself a capable administrator as governor of Provence. It was at his suggestion that barracks were built in France for the first time.
Achievements
Connections
James was married first to Honora, Comtesse de Lucan, on 26 March 1695. They had one child together. On 18 April 1700 he was remarried, this time to Anne Bulkeley, with whom he had ten children.