He emigrated to France as a young man along with his brothers John and William and joined the Irish Brigade of the French army as a volunteer captain. It was in France that he met the Jacobite Prince Charles Edward (Bonnie Prince Charlie).
A youthful emigrant, accompanied by his brothers John and William, joined the Irish Brigade of the French army as a volunteer officer. In France, it was there that he met the Jacobite leader Prince Charles Edward (Bonnie Prince Charlie).