Frederic Henri de la Forest-Suzannet


Marquess Frédéric Henri de La Forest de Suzannet, born at an unknown date, dead about 1701, was a French Huguenot in Lunenburg, Danish, and Saxon service.
Religious persecution forced Marquess de La Forest to leave his homeland, entering into Lunenburg service as captain of horse. In 1682, he moved to Denmark, being commissioned a colonel in 1682, and given a patent to raise a regiment of horse, which however did not come beyond the first start. The marquis, who enjoyed the favours of the Danish court, was in 1689 promoted to major-general and appointed Danish minister at the Court of St James, and advisor to Prince George of Denmark, the husband of the future Queen Anne. His main task was to win the support of King William in Denmark's conflict with the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and in this regard negotiate about Danish military assistance in the war against the Jacobites.
Having successfully negotiated a treaty of military assistance, Marquess de La Forest became Major-general of Horse in the Danish Auxiliary Corps sent to Ireland in accordance with that treaty. In 1694 he was promoted to Lieutenant-general in the Corps by William of Orange, becoming Danish lieutenant-general in 1697. At the end of the Nine Years' War he resigned from Danish service, settling in Ireland on an estate given him by King William. Two years later, however, he is a full general in Saxon service.
Marquess de La Forest was the son of Jacques de Suzannet and Elisabeth Renée de Limoine. He was married to Elisabeth de Coursillon, Marchioness de Dangeau. Two of their sons died in the opera house fire in Copenhagen 1689, a surviving son became Groom of the Privy Bedchamber to the king of England.

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