He was born
François-Auguste de Ligonnier at
Castres,
Languedoc the third of five surviving sons of the
Huguenot Louis de Ligonnier, sieur of Monteuquet, and his wife Louise du Poncet. The second son
John (Jean-Louis) emigrated in 1697 and entered the British service in 1702, and another brother Anthony (Antoine) went to England in 1698, dying as a major in the British Army. Francis Ligonier moved to England in 1710 and was secured a commission as ensign in
Phillips's
12th Regiment of Foot through his brother John, who had been made lieutenant-colonel of the regiment in 1711. After service at
Menorca the brothers returned to England in 1716, and Ligonier transferred to the
Royal Regiment of Horse Guards (the Blues) as a cornet. He was promoted to lieutenant in the Blues in 1720 and captain in the
9th Regiment of Dragoons (
Wynne's) in 1722. In 1729 he was promoted major in the
8th Regiment of Horse (the Black Horse), of which John Ligonier had been made
colonel in 1720, later commanding the regiment as its lieutenant-colonel. The Black Horse formed part of the garrison in Ireland, and Ligonier was made joint Chief Ranger of Ireland with his brother and
Lord John Sackville in 1736. ==References==