Francis Augustus Ligonier (1693 – 25 January 1746) was a French-born officer of the British Army.

Biography

He was born François-Auguste de Ligonier at Castres, the third of five surviving sons of the Huguenot Louis de Ligonier, sieur of Monteuquet, and his wife Louise du Poncet. The second son John (Jean Louis) entered the British service in 1697, 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 the 12th Regiment of Foot (Phillips's) through his brother John, who had been made lieutenant-colonel of the regiment in 1711. After service at Minorca 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.