I am working towards an MA by Research in History at the University of Leeds .
My thesis is about Charles Horneck aka "The Military Macaroni" but my research uinto family history goes back over ten years.
I have decided to share my ideas about two London families - the Haarnacks and the Hornecks which have captured my imagination.
Although entirely unconnected (except by a similar surname) these two studies of family history have provided an excellent opportunity to to explore the history of London and Londoners in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. I have separated the the strands into two blogs:
moirabonnington's posterous and
The Military Macaroni. .
Charles Horneck was the son of Kane William Horneck and Hannah Triggs of Plymouth. His great grandfather was the cleric and scholar, Anthony Horneck and his grandfather the soldier William Horneck. Both men were buried in Westminster Abbey.
Although referred to scathingly as a “ little lilly macaroni” in his youth, Charles Horneck appears to have had a distinguished army career reaching the rank of General by the time of his death in 1804 yet no obituary recording his life has been found.
Charles Horneck was educated at Westminster School and bought a commission as Ensign in the Third 3rd Footguards in 1768 . Based at St James barracks, the Guards had a reputation for parading in the nearby park in their finery and enjoying the attractions of London – frequenting the“ nunneries” of St James, the Pantheon, Vauxhall Gardens and Covent Garden. They were the subject of mockery and doubt was thrown on their masculinity, sexual preferences and general conduct. Charles Horneck had developed foppish tastes in clothing and made the acquaintance of the cross dressing French diplomat and spy - The Chevalier D'Eon. He dined with the Chevalier and his associates - Morande and Beaumarchais - and attended masquerades at the Pantheon . For some reason young Horneck was not popular and he attracted the attention of the satirical press as the the subject of two caricatures in the Darly macaroni print series and an article in the satirical press in the early 1770s.
In May 1773, Horneck married Sarah Keppel, the natural daughter of George, the deceased third Earl of Albemarle but the marriage was very shortlived. Mrs eloped with her husband's friend and fellow officer John Scawen less than a year after the wedding. The couple toured extensively on the continent and Horneck eventually petitioned for divorce in 1776.
Afterwards he continued to keep "unsuitable" company and became embroiled in the speculation over the sexual identity of the Chevalier D'Eon. After suffering similar insults about his own masculinity, he eventually challenged his accuser De Morande to a duel. Shortly after this matter was settled, Horneck embarked for America with his regiment .
I am still piecing together his adventures in the American War of Independence.
Horneck surrendered at Yorktown and returned to England. Snippets of evidence show him attending coffee houses and clubs, visiting Bath and even participating in amateur dramatics.
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Horneck of the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards exchanged regiments with Campbell of the 62nd Regiment of Foot on 5 June 1789. and two years later me married the daughter of General Gould - Frances Gould in Bath.
I have found reports of service in the West Indies and service in St Domingue and Corsica. During this latter period of his career , he served in some significant crisis spots often holding the fort in an isolated outpost with just a handful of men.By the end of his life Horneck was a sturdy establishment figure and he appears to have shaken off the macaroni image at last. His life was so colourful and event ful that it serves too illustrate many aspects of the life of a man of middling sorts in the Georgian era.
