| Clan Cathcart | |
|---|---|
 Crest: A dexter hand couped above the wrist and erect Proper, grasping a crescent Argent | |
| Motto | I hope to speed |
| Chief | |
 | |
| Charles Alan Andrew Cathcart | |
| the 7thEarl Cathcart | |
| Seat | Gateley Hall |
| Historic seat | Cathcart Castle |
Clan Cathcart is a LowlandScottish clan.[1]
The lands of Cathcart are named after theRiver Cart inRenfrewshire.[1]Caeth-cart means thestrait of Cart.[1] Rainaldus de Kethcart appears to have been the progenitor of the family.[1] In 1178 he was witness to a charter of the king's steward toPaisley Abbey.[1] His son was William de Kethcart who was a witness to a charter in about 1200, exchanging the lands of Knoc near Walkinshaw with the Abbey of Paisley.[1] In 1234 a charter of resignation of the lands of Culbeth to theAbbot of Paisley was sealed by Alan de Cathcart.[1]
Alan de Cathcart's son, William de Cathcart, was one of the Scottish barons who submitted toEdward I of England and is listed on theRagman Rolls of 1296.[1] William was succeeded by Alan de Cathcart who was a staunch supporter of kingRobert the Bruce in cause of Scottish independence.[1] He followed the king's brother,Edward Bruce and was among a party of just fifty knights who surprised a much superior English force under Lord St John inGalloway and routed them.[1] Alan survived theWars of Scottish Independence and is recorded in a deed making a gift to theDominican Friars of Glasgow in 1336.[1] In the deed he is designated asDominus Ejusdem which is translated asof that Ilk.[1] Alan was related to theBruces through his wife who was the sister of Sir Duncan Wallace ofSundram, husband of Elanor Bruce, theCountess of Carrick.[1]
Sir Alan de Cathcart obtained several estates inCarrick.[1] He was raised to the peerage with the titleLord Cathcart in 1447.[1] He also obtained lands inAyrshire including the estate ofAuchencruive which was the family seat until 1718.[1] Alan became constable of the royalDundonald Castle.[1] In 1485 he was appointed asMaster of the Artillery.[1]
Alan Cathcart, son of the second Lord Cathcart was killed along with his two half-brothers, Robert and John, in 1513 at theBattle of Flodden.[1] The third Lord Cathcart was killed at theBattle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.[1]
Alan Cathcart the fourth Lord Cathcart was a Protestant and a promoter of theScottish Reformation.[1] He and his men fought for the Regent Moray at theBattle of Langside in 1568 against the army ofMary, Queen of Scots.[1] The ancientCathcart Castle has a view point and is near the battlefield, from which the queen is said to have awaited the outcome of the battle.[1]
Charles Cathcart, 8th Lord Cathcart was born in about 1686 and had a distinguished military career.[1] He became a major on theScots Grays in 1709.[1] During theJacobite rising of 1715 the eighth Lord Cathcart commanded a detachment of dragoons and it was Cathcart's troops that outflanked the Jacobite forces atBattle of Sheriffmuir.[1] Cathcart had also previously defeated the Jacobites at theSkirmish of Dunfermline in October 1715.[2]
Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart was an aide-de-camp to theDuke of Cumberland and fought for the government at theBattle of Culloden in 1746 where he was wounded.[1] In 1768 he was appointed ambassador atSaint Petersburg and he was well received byEmpress Catherine.[1] He wore a patch on his cheek which was apparently to hide a wound that was received at theBattle of Fontenoy.[1]
William Cathcart, the tenth Lord Cathcart accompanied his father to Russia.[1] When he returned to Scotland he took up legal studies and was called to the Bar in 1776.[1] When he succeeded his fathers title he gave up legal studies and returned to the army.[1] He rose to the rank of lieutenant general and was commander in chief of the forces in Ireland. He was also created aKnight of the Thistle.[1]
During theNapoleonic Wars in 1807 as Napoleon's troops were about to take control of Denmark, Lord Cathcart and Admiral Gambier successfully besieged Copenhagen and captured the Danish fleet of over 60 vessels together with naval stores and munitions.[1] Lord Cathcart was rewarded with the titles Viscount Cathcart and Baron of Greenock.[1] In June 1814 he was madeEarl Cathcart.[1]
The second Earl Cathcart also had a distinguished military career and served throughout thePeninsular War, fighting at theBattle of Waterloo in 1815.[1] He was also the commander of the British Army in Scotland and governor ofEdinburgh Castle from 1837 to 1842.[1]
Clan Chief:The Rt. Hon. Charles Alan Andrew Cathcart of Cathcart, the 7thEarl Cathcart,Viscount Cathcart of Cathcart,Lord Cathcart andBaron Greenock of Greenock, Chief of the Name and Arms of Cathcart.[3]
