Kirke

Kirke, Percy (d. 1691), the notorious commander of "Kirke's Lambs," was the son of a courtier of Charles I. and Charles II. In 1666 he was given a commission in the army, and became colonel in 1680. He then went out to Tangier in command of eight companies raised by him in the neighbourhood of London. He became governor of the newly-acquired possession in 1682. On its evacuation two years later he returned to England with his "Lambs" (so called from the Paschal Lamb which was the badge of the regiment). At Sedgemoor he was present as brigadier-general, and after the battle gained his infamous name by his severities, which, however, were much exaggerated. William III. made him a major-general, and in 1690 he reached the rank of lieutenant-general. In 1689 he relieved Derry, and afterwards served at the Boyne and at the siege of Limerick.