Henry de Nassau, Lord Overkirk

Who was Henry de Nassau, Lord Overkirk?

Henry, Count of Nassau, Lord of Overkirk was a Dutch military general and second cousin of King William III of England and his Master of the Horse. Lord of Ouwerkerk and Woudenberg in the Netherlands, he was called by the English "Lord Overkirk" or "Count Overkirk".

Born in The Hague to Louis of Nassau-Beverweerd and his wife Isabella van Hoorn, Overkirk was baptised there on 16 December 1640. Granted the title Count of Nassau by the Emperor Leopold I in 1679, he joined William III's invasion of England in 1688, and was appointed the king's Master of the Horse the following year. He resided in London, notably at Overkirk House, which later became part of 10 Downing Street.

Overkirk was one of the Duke of Marlborough's most trusted generals, and led the left wing of Marlborough's army at both Ramillies and Oudenarde. He was made Field Marshal of the Dutch States Army in 1704.

Overkirk died on 18 October 1708 at Roeselare in modern-day Belgium and is buried the Nassau-LaLecq Crypt at Ouderkerk aan den IJssel in the Netherlands. His widow continued to live at Overkirk House until her own death in 1720.