William North, 6th Baron North

After being arrested for his part in the Atterbury Plot, but released for lack of evidence, North and Grey took service in the army of King Philip V of Spain.

[2] While aiming for a military career, North was considered too young to take part in the Williamite War in Ireland of 1689–1691.

[4] He served for many years under the Duke of Marlborough, and at the Battle of Blenheim on 13 August 1704 he commanded Lord North and Grey's Regiment of Foot.

[3] In 1705 North married the young Dutchwoman Maria Margaretha de Jonge van Ellemeet (1690–1762), a daughter of Cornelis de Jonge van Ellemeet (1646–1721), Receiver General of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.

[1][4] At the time of Anne's death in 1714, North was Governor of Portsmouth and favoured a Jacobite succession.

His garrison consisted of Scots Guards, who were reported to drink the health of the claimant James Francis Edward Stuart every day.

Amid fears that the Duke of Berwick would use Portsmouth as a base for a Jacobite invasion of England, North was speedily replaced by Thomas Erle.