Sir George Cathcart | |
|---|---|
 General Sir George Cathcart | |
| Born | (1794-05-12)12 May 1794 Renfrewshire, Scotland |
| Died | 5 November 1854(1854-11-05) (aged 60) Inkerman, Crimea |
| Buried | British Cemetery in Sevastopol |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1810–1854 |
| Rank | Major-general |
| Commands | 4th Division |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Georgiana Greville |
Major-GeneralSir George CathcartGCB (12 May 1794 – 5 November 1854) was a Scottish general and diplomat. He was killed in action at theBattle of Inkerman during theCrimean War.
Cathcart was born inRenfrewshire, a younger son ofWilliam Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart.[1]
After receiving his education atEton and inEdinburgh, in 1810 he purchased acommission in theLife Guards regiment. In 1813 he went to Russia to serve asaide-de-camp to his father, who was ambassador and military commissioner. George Cathcart was present at the battles between the Russian and the French armies in 1813 and he followed the Russian Army through Europe, entering Paris in March 1814.[1]
When Napoleon returned in 1815, Cathcart served asaide-de-camp to theDuke of Wellington and was present at the battles ofQuatre Bras andWaterloo. After the war he was commissioned in the7th Hussars, promoted tolieutenant-colonel in 1826. He then joined the57th Regiment in 1828, the8th Hussars in 1830 and the1st Dragoon Guards in 1838. Cathcart was promoted to colonel in 1841, and on 11 November 1851 was promoted tomajor-general.[1]
In 1852 to 1853, as Governor of theCape of Good Hope,[2] he granted the first constitution to the colony, ending the8th Cape Frontier War and defeating theBasutos at theBattle of Berea. In July 1853 Cathcart was madeKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB).[1]
In 1853 he was appointedAdjutant-General to the Forces,[3] and he left the Cape in April 1854.[1]
At the start of theCrimean War, he was appointed to command the 4th Infantry Division. TheBritish government gave him a "dormant commission," which meant that if something were to happen toLord Raglan, Cathcart would take command.[1] At theBattle of the Alma in September 1854, his division saw no action and after theBattle of Balaclava, where his division was called into action, his dormant commission was revoked.[1] He advised an infantry assault onSevastopol, thinking it could be taken, but was turned down by Lord Raglan.[1]
He took command of the 1st Brigade during theBattle of Inkerman, where there was great confusion, was told to "Support the Guards", and then led his men too far, and was shot through the heart while charging up a hill with a company of 50 men from the20th Regiment of Foot on 5 November 1854.[1]
_-_Emily_Cathcart_(1834-1917)_-_RCIN_400753_-_Royal_Collection.jpg)
On 12 May 1824, Cathcart married his first and second cousin Lady Georgiana Greville (died 12 December 1871), daughter ofLouisa Cathcart and Hon.Robert Fulke Greville. They had one son and seven daughters, who all died unmarried.[4]
Cathcart, New South Wales, Australia is named after Cathcart.[8]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Wood, James, ed. (1907). "George Cathcart".The Nuttall Encyclopædia. London and New York: Frederick Warne.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Governor of the Cape Colony 1852–1853 | Succeeded by |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by | Adjutant General 1853–1854 | Succeeded by |
