John Philippart

In 1809 he became private secretary to John Baker-Holroyd, 1st Baron (later 1st Earl of) Sheffield, the President of the Board of Agriculture, and two years later he was appointed a clerk in the War Office.

The scheme was supported by persons of influence in the profession, but it failed owing to the fear on the part of ministers that such a combination might weaken the discipline of the army.

Philippart also suggested, in a further pamphlet, a means of rendering the militia available for foreign service, and part of his plan was adopted by Lord Castlereagh.

His interest in the duties of a knight-hospitaller induced him to aid in founding in 1856 the West London Hospital, which was originally called the Fulham and Hammersmith General Dispensary.

The publisher Henry Colburn employed Philippart as editor of the Naval and Military Gazette from its first issue, and of the United Service Magazine after its relaunch in 1842.