At the age of seventeen, he served in Germany with General Hamilton's regiment of cuirassiers.
"His good sense, humility, good nature, and truly honest worthy principles, gained him the love and esteem of all who had the least acquaintance with him" (letter to his brother-in-law Viscount Mountgarret from a general in the imperial service, 1739).
There was scarcely an action of any note with the Turks that he was not in, and he always acquitted himself with uncommon resolution.
He fell a victim to his headlong bravery in the stubborn battle of Krotzka (September 1739), when the Austrians were defeated by the Turks.
We shall certainly do the work now", for the third time he spurred his horse into the thickest of the enemy, where, being surrounded, he fell, covered with wounds.