Hercules Robert Pakenham


Sir Hercules Robert Pakenham was a British Army officer who served as aide-de-camp to William IV of the United Kingdom.

Early life

Hercules Robert Pakenham was born 29 September 1781, the third son of Edward Pakenham, 2nd Baron Longford and Hon. Catherine Rowley. He was a brother of Catherine Pakenham, Thomas Pakenham, 2nd Earl of Longford, and Gen. Sir Edward Pakenham.
His mother was the second daughter of the Right Hon. Hercules Langford Rowley and Elizabeth Rowley, 1st Viscountess Langford. His aunt, the Hon. Jane Rowley, was the wife of Thomas Taylour, 1st Earl of Bective, and his uncle, Hercules Rowley, 2nd Viscount Langford, was a member of the Irish House of Commons for County Antrim and Downpatrick.

Career

Pakenham was appointed ensign 40th Regiment of Foot on 23 July 1803, became lieutenant 3 February 1804, was transferred to the 95th rifles in April the same year, and obtained his company there on 2 August 1805. He served in the expedition to Copenhagen and in Portugal, where during the Battle of Roliça, he was slightly wounded at Obidos 16–17 Aug. 1808. "He is really one of the best officers of riflemen I have seen," wrote Sir Arthur Wellesley, recommending him for promotion.
He was promoted to a majority in the 7th West India Regiment 30 August 1810, remained with the Peninsular Army, and was assistant adjutant-general of Picton's division up to the fall of Badajos, where he was severely wounded and received the Gold Cross for Busaco, Fuentes d'Onoro, Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos.
He was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel on 27 April 1812, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel 26th Cameronians on 3 September 1812, and transferred as captain and lieutenant-colonel to the Coldstream Guards on 25 July 1814, from which he retired on half-pay in 1817.
He was made brevet colonel and aide-de-camp to the king on 27 May 1825 and was promoted to major-general on 10 January 1837. He succeeded Sir Thomas McMahon as Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth and General Officer Commanding South-West District in 1839, was appointed colonel 43rd Light Infantry on 9 September 1844, and was promoted to lieutenant-general on 9 November 1846.
He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath on 4 June 1815, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 19 July 1838, and received the Peninsular silver medal and Roleia and Vimeiro clasps.

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Pakenham was a member of Parliament, representing Westmeath from 27 February 1808 to 1826. He sat for his brother, Thomas, 2nd Earl of Longford and placed votes intermittently between 1821 and 1825. Initially he was against Catholic Relief, but later came to favour it, citing his need representation of the change in opinion among his Protestant constituents.
Pakenham won the 1826 general election for Westmeath, but did not accept due to rumors that his favoring of Protestant interests resulted in his brother "discarding" him. The Catholic press reported that he was "the victim of the vote he gave... in favour of emancipation."

Personal life

When he was a captain, Pakenham was mentioned in Lady Morgan's Memoirs: Autobiography, Diaries and Correspondence:
On 25 December 1817, Pakenham married the Hon. Emily Stapleton, the fourth daughter of Sir Thomas Stapleton, 6th Baronet, 12th Baron le Despencer and the former Elizabeth Eliot. Together, they were the parents of six sons and three daughters, including:
He died suddenly at his residence, Langford Lodge, County Antrim, on 7 March 1850.

Legacy

The "Sir Hercules Pakenham Scholarship" and "Emily Lady Pakenham Scholarship" were founded in 1876, by their eldest surviving son, the Rev. Arthur Hercules Pakenham in their memory for students of Queen's College, Belfast.
One of the 42 stalls in the Domus Dei in Portsmouth was dedicated to him.