DESPARD, EDWARD MARCUS Irish conspirator, was born in Queen's Co., Ireland, in 1751. In 1766 he entered the British navy, was promoted lieutenant in 1772, and stationed at Jamaica. He was promoted captain after the San Juan expedition (1779), then made governor of the Mosquito shore and the Bay of Honduras, and in 1782 commander of a successful expedition against the Spanish possessions on the Black river. In 1784 he took over the administration of Yucatan. Upon frivolous charges he was suspended by Lord Grenville, and re called to England. From 1790 to 1792 these charges were held over him, and when dismissed no compensation was forthcoming. His complaints caused his arrest in 1798, and with a short interval he remained in gaol until 180o. Despard was arrested on a charge of plotting to assassinate George III., tried before a special com mission, found guilty of high treason, and, with six of his f ellow conspirators, sentenced in 1803 to be hanged, drawn and quartered. These were the last men to be so sentenced in England. Despard was executed on Feb. 21, 1803.
His eldest brother, JOHN DESPARD had a long and distinguished career in the British army; gazetted an ensign in 1760, he became general in 1814. In the American War of Inde pendence he was twice made prisoner.
See Sir Charles Oman, The Unfortunate Colonel Despard and other studies (1922).