Francis Peirson

Francis Peirson
Major Peirson
Born	January 1757 London, England
Died	6 January 1781 (age 24) Jersey
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1772 - 1781
Rank	Major
Commands held	(acting garrison commander) Jersey Garrison
Battles/wars	American War of Independence Battle of Jersey †

Major Francis Peirson (January 1757 – 6 January 1781) was a British Army officer who was serving on Jersey, in the Channel Islands off the coast of France. He was killed in the Battle of Jersey, one of the last battles to take place in the British Islands.^[1]

Early career[]

Educated at Warrington Academy, Peirson joined the British Army in 1772.^[2] In 1779 he was appointed to the 95th Regiment of Foot, a fencible regiment raised for the defence of the British isles from invasion and was deployed with the regiment to Jersey the following year.^[2]

Battle of Jersey and death[]

Following the capture and imprisonment of Major Moses Corbet, Commander of the Jersey Garrison, by French troops on 6 January 1781, Peirson refused French demands to surrender and took command of the Garrison.^[2] Peirson's refusal to surrender was contrary to the order of the imprisoned Corbet who had already signed the garrison's official capitulation under the threat that St Helier, island's town, would be burnt to the ground.^[3] Peirson energetically rallied the garrison from its various posts on the island, first dispatching Captain Hugh Fraser, commander of the Highlanders and light company, to secure the heights overlooking the town, which the French had inexplicably left unoccupied.^[3] Peirson then organised a counterattack against the main French force occupying St Helier, planning to outflank the De Rullecourt's troops by attacking the town from two directions.^[3] Many of the British soldiers were veterans of fighting in North America and the outnumbered French were driven back to the centre of the town at bayonet point.^[3] The ensuing exchange of fire felled the two opposing commanders. Peirson was shot in the heart by a musket ball whilst leading a flanking manoeuvre around the French position, De Rullecourt the French commander was killed whilst attempting to organise a last stand around the Statue of King George II.^[3] After Peirson's death, the troops under his command were victorious.^[4]

The Death of Major Peirson in the Battle of Jersey, painted by John Singleton Copley.

The defeated French force fled from the town and dispersed into the country side where most were eventually captured. As the engagement in St Helier was being fought, Grenadiers from the 83rd Regiment under the command of Captain Campbell stormed and recaptured the La Platte Rocque Battery which had been occupied by 100 French troops.^[3]

Places named after Peirson[]

• The Peirson pub is where Philippe de Rullecourt, the opposing French General, died.
• Peirson Place is the short street leading into the Royal Square where Peirson was shot
• Peirson Road is another street in Saint Helier

The Peirson pub

References[]