Lot Essay
'Fiery Sir Denis Pack', as his name might suggest, had an active and distinguished military career. The Major General's most celebrated achievements on the battlefield took place at both Quatre Bras and Waterloo, however, as his contemporary Parliament noted, he was "... associated with almost every military achievement of the British Army, during the eventful period of continental warfare between the year 1791, in which he entered his Majesty’s service, and the year 1823, in which he ended his honorable career,” and received the thanks of Parliament five times for his military services (Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons and Command, Volume 23, pp. 21-22).
Although an Englishman by birth, it is believed Sir Pack was raised in Kilkenny, Ireland, where his father served as deacon for St. Canice’s Cathedral, and it is known that he began his military career in Ireland joining the 14th Light Dragoons. Within four years was raised to Major of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons, before becoming Lieutenant Colonel of the 71st Highland Light Infantry. After battling Napoleon's army throughout Europe and rising to the rank of Major General, Pack's career ultimately came to an end where it began. He was buried at St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, the site marked with a memorial plaque that bears a near identical inscription to the present candelabra, which Parliament referred to “as the best record of his services.”
Although an Englishman by birth, it is believed Sir Pack was raised in Kilkenny, Ireland, where his father served as deacon for St. Canice’s Cathedral, and it is known that he began his military career in Ireland joining the 14th Light Dragoons. Within four years was raised to Major of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons, before becoming Lieutenant Colonel of the 71st Highland Light Infantry. After battling Napoleon's army throughout Europe and rising to the rank of Major General, Pack's career ultimately came to an end where it began. He was buried at St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, the site marked with a memorial plaque that bears a near identical inscription to the present candelabra, which Parliament referred to “as the best record of his services.”