Peter Martyn (1772–1827) was an Irish soldier. He was a member of one of the
Tribes of Galway
The Tribes of Galway ( ga, Treibheanna na Gaillimhe) were 14 merchant families who dominated the political, commercial and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland between the mid-13th and late 19th centuries. They were the families ...
. He was born in
Castlebar
Castlebar () is the county town of County Mayo, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Developing around a 13th century castle of the de Barry family, de Barry family, from which the town got its name, the town now acts as a social and economic focal poi ...
, County Mayo in 1772. He joined the
Imperial
Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism.
Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to:
Places
United States
* Imperial, California
* Imperial, Missouri
* Imperial, Nebraska
* Imperial, Pennsylvania
* Imperial, Texa ...
Service in June 1790 as a Second-Lieutenant in the 1st Cuirassier Regiment. He was promoted to
Captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
in the Hohenzolleran
Light Cavalry
Light cavalry comprised lightly armed and armored cavalry troops mounted on fast horses, as opposed to heavy cavalry, where the mounted riders (and sometimes the warhorses) were heavily armored. The purpose of light cavalry was primarily rai ...
in March 1808, and was awarded the
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross (German language ''Ritterkreuz'') refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that often denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
Most frequently the term Knight's Cross is used to refer to the Knight's Cr ...
of the
Order of Maria Theresa
The Military Order of Maria Theresa (german: Militär-Maria-Theresien-Orden; hu, Katonai Mária Terézia-rend; cs, Vojenský řád Marie Terezie; pl, Wojskowy Order Marii Teresy; sl, Vojaški red Marije Terezije; hr, Vojni Red Marije Te ...
in 1810. Following this, he was promoted to the rank of Major in 1812, serving with
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
Kleanu's Light Cavalry Regiment. He retired in January 1822, and died at
Arad, Hungary, on 21 May 1827. Among his descendants was the artist,
Ferenc Martyn
Ferenc Martyn (1899 – 1986) was an artist and sculptor, Hungarian-born descendant of the Martyn tribe of County Galway, descended from the same branch of the Tribe as Edward Martyn of Tullira (1859 – 1923). His great-grandfather and brother ...
.
References
* ''Further Notes on Some Irishmen in the Imperial Service'', by Micheline Walsh, in ''The Irish Sword'', volume 6, 1963–64.
* ''The Tribes of Galway'', Adrian James Martyn, Galway, 2001.
1772 births
1827 deaths
18th-century Irish people
19th-century Irish people
Hungarian people of Irish descent
Irish expatriates in Austria-Hungary
Irish soldiers in the Austrian Army
Military personnel from County Mayo
Wild Geese (soldiers)
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