THE ROYAL FUSILIERS.
GEORGE LORD DARTMOUTH,
Appointed 11th June, 1685.
Lord Dartmouth was the son of Colonel William Legge, a zealous royalist, who was with King Charles I. at the battle of Newbury and other engagements, was also in the design of the Earl of Holland to restore His Majesty in 1648, and was wounded and taken prisoner. The King was so sensible of Colonel Legge's services, and esteemed him so highly for his fidelity, that a short period before his execution, his Majesty requested the Duke of Richmond to inform the Prince of Wales (afterwards Charles II.) "that whenever he was restored to his rights, he should be sure to take care of honest Will Legge, for he was the faithfullest servant that ever any prince had."
Colonel Legge also displayed great devotion to the cause of King Charles II., and was one of the commissioners appointed by the King, in 1659, to promise pardon to all who should endeavour to effect His Majesty's restoration; excepting the individuals who sat as judges on his royal father. After the restoration His Majesty informed Colonel Legge of the message of King Charles I. by the Duke of Richmond; but the colonel declined being advanced to the peerage, at the same time expressing a hope that his sons might deserve his Majesty's favour.
George Legge (the eldest son of Colonel William Legge) went to sea at the age of seventeen, under the care of Sir Edward Spragg, a distinguished officer who commanded the rear squadron of the combined English and French fleets against Holland in 1673, and fought the Dutch Admiral Tromp, ship to ship, until both their ships were so disabled that they quitted them, and, hoisting their flags in other vessels, renewed the battle with incredible fury. Sir Edward Spragg's ship being terribly torn, he designed to go on board of a third vessel; but his boat was struck by a shot and he was drowned. Under this gallant preceptor George Legge acquired a knowledge of his profession; in 1667 he commanded the Pembroke man-of-war; in 1671 the Fairfax; and in the following year the Royal Catherine. In 1672 he was appointed lieutenant-governor of Portsmouth; in 1673 he was appointed governor of that fortress; also master of the horse and gentleman of the bedchamber to His Royal Highness the Duke of York (afterwards King James II.). At the augmentation of the army in 1678 he was appointed colonel of a newly-raised regiment of foot, which was disbanded after the peace of Nimeguen; he was also lieutenant-general of the ordnance, and was sworn a member of the privy council in 1681; in 1682 he was constituted master-general of the ordnance, and was commissioned to inspect all the forts and garrisons in England.
On the 2nd of December, 1682, he was advanced to the dignity of Baron of Dartmouth, with remainder, in default of issue, to his brother William; which remainder the King particularly ordered himself "in justice" (as he was pleased to say) "to the memory of old Colonel Legge, whose modesty ought not to prejudice his children."
The preamble of the patent imports—"That His Majesty, remembering the great merits of William Legge, one of the grooms of the royal bedchamber to his late father King Charles I., especially in that unparalleled rebellion raised against him, in which, being a person of singular skill and experience in military affairs, and also a valiant and expert commander, he faithfully served His Majesty in most of the battles and sieges of those unhappy times; that he also performed several eminent services to King Charles II. since his most happy restoration; and further, considering that George Legge, eldest son of the said William Legge, following his father's example in divers military employments, especially in sundry sharp and dangerous naval fights, wherein he did freely hazard his life, for which respect, being made general of the ordnance and artillery, and one of His Majesty's most honourable privy council, His Majesty has thought fit to dignify him with some further honour. &c."