He served under his father during the Williamite War in Ireland, fighting against the JacobiteIrish Army. Frederick Schomberg was second in command of William's army at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690.[3] Meanwhile, Meinhardt Schomberg commanded the right wing of William's army during the battle and led the crucial crossing of the River Boyne at Roughgrange near Rosnaree[4] on the Jacobites' flank, the turning point in the confrontation, despite a gallant defence by Sir Neil O'Neill, a Jacobite general.[5] Schomberg then engaged in a pursuit of the retreating troops towards Duleek:[5] there were no casualties amongst his regiment's soldiers.[2] Schomberg's father died during the latter stages of the Battle which resulted in a decisive Williamite victory.[2]
United Kingdom legislation
Naturalization of Meinhardt, Duke of Leinster Act 1691
Meinhardt Schomberg was created Duke of Leinster for his part in the Battle on 30 June 1690[6] and, after taking part in the abortive Siege of Limerick in August 1690, he became a British subject through naturalization by Act of Parliament on 25 April 1691.[7] From May 1691 he was also made Commander-in-Chief of the Forces during the King's travels in Flanders.[6] In Spring 1693 Schomberg was placed in command of the abortive descent on Saint-Malo and in October 1693 he inherited the title of Duke of Schomberg following the death of his younger brother Charles Schomberg at the Battle of Marsaglia.[1] In 1698 he moved into Schomberg House, a new mansion specially commissioned for him on the south side of Pall Mall, London.[8]
In 1703, he was created Knight of the Garter[9] and Queen Anne appointed him Commander-in-Chief of the British forces sent to Portugal for the War of the Spanish Succession.[6] Once in Portugal Schomberg was ineffective, simply allowing the Spanish General Tserclaes de Tilly to pass by unchallenged.[1] Moreover, Schomberg had a dreadful temper which attracted universal disgust: neither Peter II, King of Portugal, nor Charles, claimant to the throne of Spain, were prepared to accept his turbulent behaviour and he was sent home in disgrace.[6]
Meinhardt Schomberg had an interest in naval matters and registered a patent concerning inspecting the fishing for wrecks.[10] He commissioned the construction of Hillingdon House in 1717 as his hunting lodge[11] and died there on 16 July [O.S. 5 July] 1719.[1] He had no surviving male issue so all of his titles (Duke of Schomberg, Duke of Leinster, Marquess of Harwich, Earl of Brentford, Earl of Bangor, Baron Teyes and Count of Mértola)[9] except Count of Mértola died with him.[6]
The town of Schomberg, Ontario was renamed to commemorate the 3rd Duke of Schomberg in 1862.[12]
Family
Schomberg had Hillingdon House built in 1717
On 3 August 1667 Schomberg married Piedmontese Barbara Luisa Rizzi in La Rochelle.[13] The couple did not have any children,[1] although some sources suggest that shortly after the marriage he abandoned his wife when she was seven months pregnant after she refused to divorce.[13]
_(attributed_to)_-_Meinhard_Schomberg_(1641%E2%80%931719),_Duke_of_Leinster_and_3rd_Duke_of_Schomberg_-_1220970_-_National_Trust.jpg)
