He won a bloody victory against Marshal Soult at Albuera () which prevented the French advancing on Lisbon, and received the thanks of parliament on 7 June 1811. For these efforts and his victory at Sierra Busaco (27 August 1810) he was knighted in October 1810, and made captain general of Spain (1811). He was appointed ‘marshal commanding’ the Portuguese army (1809–19), which was then in an extremely disorganised state, but he successfully forged it into a disciplined fighting force. Promoted major-general in 1808, he served under Sir John Moore (qv) and was at Corunna (16 January 1809). In December 1807 he commanded at the seizure of Madeira and remained there as the king of Portugal's governor (24 December 1807–July 1808) until ordered to Spain to assist Wellesley (qv). Beresford returned to England in 1807, and was promoted colonel of the 88th (9 February 1807–11 March 1819). Kilkenny escaped Pack later served with distinction under Beresford during the Peninsular campaign.

After six months in captivity (during which he was made an honorary freeman of Dublin corporation) Beresford and his fellow officer Col. On 27 June 1806 his 1,200 men managed to seize the city, but on 12 August 1806 the inhabitants rose and defeated and imprisoned them. He led a brigade in a diversionary action at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope in January 1806, and subsequently commanded the land forces sent to invade Buenos Aires. Ordered to Egypt to reinforce Abercromby (qv), he won renown by leading a brigade on a gruelling fourteen-day march across the desert from Kosseir to the Nile, and then commanded the brigade in Egypt (1801–3). He returned to England in 1796, was promoted colonel (1800), and was sent to India with the 88th, arriving in Bombay 10 June 1800.

He then became lieutenant-colonel of the 88th Foot (Connaught Rangers) (1 September 1795–9 February 1807), which he commanded in the West Indies in 1795, where he helped take Grenada and St Lucia. Returning to England in August 1794, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the 124th or Waterford Foot (a regiment raised by his father) 11 August 1794. Hood was forced to retreat to Corsica, where Beresford distinguished himself during the storming of the tower at Cape Mortella in February 1794. In August 1793, as a major with the 69th Foot, he participated in Adm. While serving in Nova Scotia, he lost an eye in a shooting accident.

2 October 1844) the identity of their mother is uncertain, but it may have been Elizabeth Monck of Charleville, whom Tyrone married 18 April 1769.Īfter education at York and military school in Strasbourg, William was commissioned ensign in the 6th Foot (27 August 1785). Waterford (1757–60) and Coleraine (1761–3), and governor of Co. Waterford, illegitimate son of George de la Poer Beresford (1734/5–1800), 2nd earl of Tyrone (1763–89), 1st marquess of Waterford (cr.

Lizzy Fights On by Elisabeth Beresford