GINCKELL, GODAItT VAN, 1640-1703; first earl of Athlone. He was the head of to ancient and noble family, and bore the title of Baron van Reede. In his youth, he entered the Dutch army, and in 1688 he followed William, prince of Orange, in his expeditions to England. In. the following year he distinguished himself by a memorable exploit—the pursuit, defeat, and captnre of the SedtAish 'regimen t which had mutinied at Ipswich, and was marching across the fens to their native land; It was the alacno excited by this mutiny that facilitated the passing of the first mutiny act. In 1690, Ginekell accompanied William Ill. to Ireland, and commanded a body of Dutch cavalry at the battle of the Boyne. On the king's return to England, gen. Ginekell was entrusted with the conduct of the war. Among those who held command under hint was the marquis of Ruvigny, the recognized chief of the Huguenot refugees. Early in June, Ginckell took the of Ballymore, capturing the whole garrison of 10013 men. The English lost only 8 men. After reconstructing the fortifications of Bally more, the army marched to Athlone, then one of the most important of the fortified towns of Ireland. Time Irish defenders of the place were commanded by a distinguished French gen., Saint-Ruth. The firing began on June 19th, and on the 30th the town was stormed, the Irish army retreating towards Galway, and taking up their position at Aghrim. Having strengthened the fortifications of Athlone and left a garrison there, Ginckell led the'English, on July 12th, to Aghrim. An immediate attack was resolved on, and after a severe and at one time doubtful contest, the'crisis was precipitated by the fall of Saint-Ruth, and the disorganized Irish were defeated and fled. A horrible
slaughter of the Irish followed the struggle, and 4,000 corpses were left unburied on the field, besides a multitude of others, that lay along the line of the retreat. Galway next capitulated, its garrison being allowed to retire to Limerick. There the viceroy, Tyr connel, was in command of a large force, but his sudden death in Aug. left the com mand in the hands of gen. Sarsfield and the Frenchman D'tisson. The English army came in sight of the town on the day of Tyrconuel's death, and the bombardment was immediately begun. Ginckell, by a bold device, crossed the Shannon and captured the camp of the Irish cavalry. A few days later lie stormed the fort on Thomond bridge, and after difficult negotiations a capitulation was signed, the terms of which were divided into a civil and military treaty. Thus was completed the conquest or pacification of Ireland, and the services of the Dutch general were amply recognized and rewarded. He received the formal thanks of the house of commons, and was created by the king, first earl of Athlone and baron of Aghrim. The immense forfeited estates of the earl of Limerick were given to him, but the grant was a few years later revoked by the English parliament. The earl continued to serve in the English army, and accompanied the king to the continent in 1693. He fought at Landon, and assisted iu destroying the French magazine at Givet. In 1702, he took command of the Dutch, serving under the duke of Marlborough. He died at Utrecht, Feb. 10, 1703. On the death of the ninth earl without issue, in 1844, the title became extinct. [Encye. Brit. 9th ed.]