Captain Brabber Connor, Limerick County Militia, 1810 (c)

Miniature portrait in watercolour on paper, by G A Scott, 1810 (c).

Head and shoulders portrait, in red coatee with black facings and gold lace.

The Militia officer wears the shoulder belt plate of the Limerick County Militia.

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries militia units were responsible for home defence and maintaining law and order in vulnerable locations such as Ireland and the south coast of England. Unrest in Ireland, alongside the outbreak of war with revolutionary France, led to a new Irish Militia Bill in 1793. 38 regiments were raised but this was not without risk. Not only was compulsory military service resisted by many, but it also meant arming Catholics, whom the government did not entirely trust.

Militia units did not have to serve overseas, but they were seen as a useful reserve of trained men. Bounties were offered to militiamen who exchanged into the regular Army for overseas service.