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At the risk of some confusion, I should note that officers could have up to three ranks at this time. Their basic rank was that in their regiment. Many officers were detached from their regiments to hold staff positions which carried separate ranks. Finally, there was a separate hierarchy of general officers with "army" rather than regimental rank. Thus, in 1776-77, at the time his portrait was published (see above), Percy was colonel of the 5th Regiment of Foot, lieutenant-general in America (staff), and major-general in the army.
			

				
There were five levels of nobility in the 1700s: duke (highest); marquis or marquess; earl, equivalent to a French count; viscount; and baron (lowest). Baronets are not peers -- they are not called "Lord ..." -- but are inherited knighthoods. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior of the British orders of knighthood; founded by Edward III, membership is limited to the monarch and just 25 knights.
			
The name "Percy" conjures up an image of a proud northern dynasty of territorial magnates dating back to the Norman Conquest. For centuries, the powerful Percies, earls of Northumberland, were almost viceroys of northern England and the Scottish borderlands. That historic family, prominent in Shakespeare's historical plays, was actually the second Percy family; it survived five centuries, and many vicissitudes, until the direct male line ended in 1670.
Hugh, earl Percy was thus a member of the third Percy family, which was the product of a conscious and deliberate effort in the middle of the eighteenth century to re-establish those past glories (De Fonblanque 1887; Brenan 1902).  On his death in 1670, the last earl of Northumberland left a daughter and heiress, Lady Elizabeth Percy, who had married the sixth duke of Somerset. On her death in 1722, her son, Algernon Seymour (1684-1750; seventh duke, 1748) was created baron Percy in his own right, in recognition of her inheritance. Algernon's son died early (1744) and his estate---and title of baron Percy---devolved onto his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Seymour (1716-1776). Lady Elizabeth had married, in 1740, an aggressive and wealthy Yorkshire baronet, Sir Hugh Smithson (1714-1786). Sir Hugh sought to restore the heritage of his wife's grandmother: in 1749, the duke was created earl of Northumberland and baron Warkworth, with the special provision that those titles would pass on his death to Sir Hugh. Immediately after the duke's death in February 1749/50, a special act of Parliament changed the new earl of Northumberland's family name from Smithson to Percy. He later became a knight of the Garter (1757) and was lord lieutenant of Ireland (1763-65). In recompense for having his political ambitions thwarted---he almost became prime minister---the government elevated him in October 1766 to duke of Northumberland and earl Percy (Dictionary of National Biography 15 [1917]: 863-65; Complete Peerage, 9:742-44 and 10:468-69).
Hugh, earl Percy was thus actually born as Hugh Smithson in August 1742. He became Hugh Percy on his father's ennoblement and name change in 1750 and, as was then customary, he was styled after his father's second title (baron Warkworth). When his father was promoted to duke in 1766, Percy could not use his father's old---now second---title of earl of Northumberland, because there could only be one "Lord Northumberland"; Percy was therefore styled by his father's new third title, earl Percy. He continued by this customary title even after his mother died in December 1776 and he became baron Percy in his own right: a customary earldom is still superior to a real barony. On his father's death in June 1786, Percy was accordingly invested with the following titles (with their dates of creation): duke of Northumberland (1766), earl of Northumberland (1749), earl Percy (1766), baron Percy (1722), baron Warkworth (1749), and baronet (1660). He eventually became a knight of the Garter in May 1801. He died in July 1817 (Dictionary of National Biography 15 [1917]: 865-67; Complete Peerage, 9:744-46). [note]There were five levels of nobility in the 1700s: duke (highest); marquis or marquess; earl, equivalent to a French count; viscount; and baron (lowest). Baronets are not peers -- they are not called "Lord ..." -- but are inherited knighthoods. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior of the British orders of knighthood; founded by Edward III, membership is limited to the monarch and just 25 knights.[NOTE_9225_0]
			
Percy's life followed a relatively standard pattern both before and after he inherited his father's position. He was educated at Eton (1753-58). He volunteered for military service in 1759 and fought in several battles in Europe during the Seven Years (French and Indian) War. After the war, in 1763, he was elected to represent Westminster in the House of Commons. Politically, he benefitted from his father's close relationship with the king. He married, in July 1764, the daughter of the earl of Bute, the king's mentor, and so secured for himself membership in the "king's private junto." This close relationship with the court did not last long; by 1768, both he and his father had distanced themselves from the court over the king's policies for the American colonies. Both voted against the Stamp Act in 1765 and for its repeal in 1766. (The younger Percy's slow political realignment would eventually carry him into the Prince of Wales' circle of friends.) Percy continued to serve in the Commons until he inherited his mother's barony in December 1776 and was automatically elevated to the Lords. In 1786, he inherited not only his father's titles but also his father's social responsibilities, including his fellowships in the Society of Arts (1787) and the Royal Society (1788) and his membership of the Order of the Garter (proposed 1788; installed 1801).
The duties of a peer's son in parliament were not exactly onerous, and Percy simultaneously held commissions in the army. His rise through the ranks was that of the nobleman who had both the wealth to purchase new ranks and the interest to secure promotions when available. He joined the army in 1759, when he was gazetted as an ensign in the 24th Foot. Four months later he exchanged into the 85th Foot, purchasing a captaincy as he did so; he purchased a lieutenant-colonelcy in the 111th Foot in April 1762. After the war, he was made a colonel and aide-de-camp to the king in October 1764, at the age of only 22. He was given command of the 5th Foot in 1768, with which regiment he fought in America (below). Percy's active military career ended with his return from the colonies in 1777, but he continued to serve in largely ceremonial positions: he obtained the colonelcy of the second troop of Horse Grenadier Guards (1784) and of the premier regiment, the Horse Guards in 1806; he became a full general in the army in 1793. [note]At the risk of some confusion, I should note that officers could have up to three ranks at this time. Their basic rank was that in their regiment. Many officers were detached from their regiments to hold staff positions which carried separate ranks. Finally, there was a separate hierarchy of general officers with "army" rather than regimental rank. Thus, in 1776-77, at the time his portrait was published (see above), Percy was colonel of the 5th Regiment of Foot, lieutenant-general in America (staff), and major-general in the army.[NOTE_9225_1]
			
            [view] => 

				
At the risk of some confusion, I should note that officers could have up to three ranks at this time. Their basic rank was that in their regiment. Many officers were detached from their regiments to hold staff positions which carried separate ranks. Finally, there was a separate hierarchy of general officers with "army" rather than regimental rank. Thus, in 1776-77, at the time his portrait was published (see above), Percy was colonel of the 5th Regiment of Foot, lieutenant-general in America (staff), and major-general in the army.
			

				
There were five levels of nobility in the 1700s: duke (highest); marquis or marquess; earl, equivalent to a French count; viscount; and baron (lowest). Baronets are not peers -- they are not called "Lord ..." -- but are inherited knighthoods. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior of the British orders of knighthood; founded by Edward III, membership is limited to the monarch and just 25 knights.
			
The name "Percy" conjures up an image of a proud northern dynasty of territorial magnates dating back to the Norman Conquest. For centuries, the powerful Percies, earls of Northumberland, were almost viceroys of northern England and the Scottish borderlands. That historic family, prominent in Shakespeare's historical plays, was actually the second Percy family; it survived five centuries, and many vicissitudes, until the direct male line ended in 1670.
Hugh, earl Percy was thus a member of the third Percy family, which was the product of a conscious and deliberate effort in the middle of the eighteenth century to re-establish those past glories (De Fonblanque 1887; Brenan 1902).  On his death in 1670, the last earl of Northumberland left a daughter and heiress, Lady Elizabeth Percy, who had married the sixth duke of Somerset. On her death in 1722, her son, Algernon Seymour (1684-1750; seventh duke, 1748) was created baron Percy in his own right, in recognition of her inheritance. Algernon's son died early (1744) and his estate---and title of baron Percy---devolved onto his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Seymour (1716-1776). Lady Elizabeth had married, in 1740, an aggressive and wealthy Yorkshire baronet, Sir Hugh Smithson (1714-1786). Sir Hugh sought to restore the heritage of his wife's grandmother: in 1749, the duke was created earl of Northumberland and baron Warkworth, with the special provision that those titles would pass on his death to Sir Hugh. Immediately after the duke's death in February 1749/50, a special act of Parliament changed the new earl of Northumberland's family name from Smithson to Percy. He later became a knight of the Garter (1757) and was lord lieutenant of Ireland (1763-65). In recompense for having his political ambitions thwarted---he almost became prime minister---the government elevated him in October 1766 to duke of Northumberland and earl Percy (Dictionary of National Biography 15 [1917]: 863-65; Complete Peerage, 9:742-44 and 10:468-69).
Hugh, earl Percy was thus actually born as Hugh Smithson in August 1742. He became Hugh Percy on his father's ennoblement and name change in 1750 and, as was then customary, he was styled after his father's second title (baron Warkworth). When his father was promoted to duke in 1766, Percy could not use his father's old---now second---title of earl of Northumberland, because there could only be one "Lord Northumberland"; Percy was therefore styled by his father's new third title, earl Percy. He continued by this customary title even after his mother died in December 1776 and he became baron Percy in his own right: a customary earldom is still superior to a real barony. On his father's death in June 1786, Percy was accordingly invested with the following titles (with their dates of creation): duke of Northumberland (1766), earl of Northumberland (1749), earl Percy (1766), baron Percy (1722), baron Warkworth (1749), and baronet (1660). He eventually became a knight of the Garter in May 1801. He died in July 1817 (Dictionary of National Biography 15 [1917]: 865-67; Complete Peerage, 9:744-46). [note]There were five levels of nobility in the 1700s: duke (highest); marquis or marquess; earl, equivalent to a French count; viscount; and baron (lowest). Baronets are not peers -- they are not called "Lord ..." -- but are inherited knighthoods. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior of the British orders of knighthood; founded by Edward III, membership is limited to the monarch and just 25 knights.[NOTE_9225_0]
			
Percy's life followed a relatively standard pattern both before and after he inherited his father's position. He was educated at Eton (1753-58). He volunteered for military service in 1759 and fought in several battles in Europe during the Seven Years (French and Indian) War. After the war, in 1763, he was elected to represent Westminster in the House of Commons. Politically, he benefitted from his father's close relationship with the king. He married, in July 1764, the daughter of the earl of Bute, the king's mentor, and so secured for himself membership in the "king's private junto." This close relationship with the court did not last long; by 1768, both he and his father had distanced themselves from the court over the king's policies for the American colonies. Both voted against the Stamp Act in 1765 and for its repeal in 1766. (The younger Percy's slow political realignment would eventually carry him into the Prince of Wales' circle of friends.) Percy continued to serve in the Commons until he inherited his mother's barony in December 1776 and was automatically elevated to the Lords. In 1786, he inherited not only his father's titles but also his father's social responsibilities, including his fellowships in the Society of Arts (1787) and the Royal Society (1788) and his membership of the Order of the Garter (proposed 1788; installed 1801).
The duties of a peer's son in parliament were not exactly onerous, and Percy simultaneously held commissions in the army. His rise through the ranks was that of the nobleman who had both the wealth to purchase new ranks and the interest to secure promotions when available. He joined the army in 1759, when he was gazetted as an ensign in the 24th Foot. Four months later he exchanged into the 85th Foot, purchasing a captaincy as he did so; he purchased a lieutenant-colonelcy in the 111th Foot in April 1762. After the war, he was made a colonel and aide-de-camp to the king in October 1764, at the age of only 22. He was given command of the 5th Foot in 1768, with which regiment he fought in America (below). Percy's active military career ended with his return from the colonies in 1777, but he continued to serve in largely ceremonial positions: he obtained the colonelcy of the second troop of Horse Grenadier Guards (1784) and of the premier regiment, the Horse Guards in 1806; he became a full general in the army in 1793. [note]At the risk of some confusion, I should note that officers could have up to three ranks at this time. Their basic rank was that in their regiment. Many officers were detached from their regiments to hold staff positions which carried separate ranks. Finally, there was a separate hierarchy of general officers with "army" rather than regimental rank. Thus, in 1776-77, at the time his portrait was published (see above), Percy was colonel of the 5th Regiment of Foot, lieutenant-general in America (staff), and major-general in the army.[NOTE_9225_1]
			
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