Ligonier was a Huguenot refugee who fled his native Castres for England in 1697, following the 1685 Edict of Fontainebleau, which stripped the rights of French Protestants to practice their religion.

He served in several of the Duke of Marlborough's campaigns during the War of the Spanish Succession and died unmarried in 1767, with the rank of major.

[9] After becoming a captain in the 10th Foot on 10 February 1703,[9] he commanded a company at the battles of Schellenberg in July 1704[9] and Blenheim in August 1704,[9] and was present at Menen[10] where he led the storming of the covered way as well as Ramillies in May 1706,[9] Oudenarde in July 1708[5] and Malplaquet in September 1709[9] where he received twenty-three bullets through his clothing yet remained unhurt.

[5] During the War of the Quadruple Alliance in 1719 he was adjutant-general of the troops employed in the Vigo expedition, where he led the stormers of Pontevedra.

[9] He was promoted to lieutenant general on 26 February 1742[14] and George II made him a Knight of the Bath on the field of Dettingen in June 1743.

[16] Having been promoted to the rank of general of horse on 3 January 1746,[17] he was placed at the head of the British and British-paid contingents of the Allied army in the Low Countries in June 1746.

He was present at Rocoux in October 1746[19] and, having been made Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance on 19 March 1747,[20] he fought at Lauffeld in July 1747, where he led the charge of the British cavalry.

[25] In September 1757, following the disgrace of the Duke of Cumberland who had signed the Convention of Klosterzeven, Ligonier was made Commander-in-Chief of the Forces.

[19] He worked closely with the Pitt–Newcastle ministry who sought his strategic advice in connection with the Seven Years' War which was underway at this time.

[32] The earldom became extinct but the Irish viscountcy and Cobham Park passed to his nephew Edward (son of his younger brother Francis), who would also be created Earl Ligonier in the Peerage of Ireland six years later.