Edward Marcus Despard

Edward Marcus Despard (1751 – 21 February 1803) was an Irish soldier who served in the British Army. During the American War of Independence Despard led a force to victory at the Battle of the Black River, securing the British presence on the Mosquito Coast. Following the war Despard was appointed Superintendent of what became British Honduras. He was recalled to London in 1790 after questions were raised about his conduct. Despard soon found himself in jail for debt. He later took up revolutionary politics, becoming involved with the United Britons movement, and was executed for high treason for his part in the failed Despard Plot.

Edward Despard was born in 1751 into a Protestant family of Huguenot and Anglo-Irish descent in Coolrain, Camross, Queens County, Ireland. He was one of five brothers all of whom except the eldest, who inherited the family estate, served in the British military. His elder brother John Despard (1745–1829) was an army officer who rose to the rank of full General.

In 1766 he entered the British British Army as an Ensign in the 50th Foot. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1772, and stationed at Jamaica, where he soon proved himself to have considerable engineering talent.

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