György Kmety | |
|---|---|
 Ismail Pasha in Ottoman military uniform | |
| Born | (1813-05-24)24 May 1813 Felsőpokorágy (today Vyšná Pokorad, Slovakia) |
| Died | 25 April 1865(1865-04-25) (aged 51) London |
| Allegiance |  Hungarian Revolutionary Army Ottoman Empire |
| Rank | General |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Schwechat Crimean War |
György Kmety (Felsőpokorágy,(1813-05-24)24 May 1813 –London,(1865-04-25)25 April 1865) was a general in the Hungarian Army, and in the Ottoman Army under the nameIsmailPasha.
Kmety's father was a noble but poorevangelist vicar who died in 1818, so his brotherPál (Paul) brought him up. Kmety completed his studies inKésmárk (today Kežmarok, Slovakia) and in 1833 he joined the 19th Army. At the end of 1847 he was anon-commissioned officer inJoseph Radetzky von Radetz's army as afirst lieutenant. On 1 October 1848 inGyőr he joined the 23rd Army Corps as acaptain.
Kmety played an important role in setting up the corps, because another captain ended up not enlisting because of illness. Kmety was leading four companies when he went withLajos Kossuth to János Móga's camp, and with them fought theBattle of Schwechat. For this Kossuth awarded him a captaincy in the 1st Army Corps. Later he was promoted tocolonel for defeating a cavalry attack. From 15 February 1849 Kmety was leading a division.
Kmety didn't fight in theBattle of Kápolna because ofHenryk Dembiński's poor leadership, although he covered the retreating Hungarian army. On 28 February 1849 Kmety won the battle against Franz Deym atMezőkövesd. On 14 April 1849 he was promoted to colonel.
Kmety led the Hungarians to recover Buda, but he was injured. After that he was commanded to occupy the banks of the RiverRába. On 13 June Kmety defeated the Austrian troops led by Franz Wyss in theBattle of Csorna, and because of this he received the general title. On 27 June Edler von Warensberg defeated Kmety and he had to move towardsVojvodina. Even though Kmety tried to rush his troops he missed theBattle of Hegyes againstJosip Jelačić.
On 9 August Kmety joined to the Hungarian army corps at Temesvár (nowTimișoara, Romania). On the left flank Kmety advanced successfully, but in other sections of the corps he also had to retreat. On 15 August Kmety defeated theAustrian Army at Lugos (nowLugoj, Romania).
After theSurrender at Világos Kmety fled to theOttoman Empire and he joined to the Ottoman army under the name of Isma'il, but he did not convert to Islam. The Ottoman people liked him and asked him to modernise the Ottoman army, which he did. Kmety was transferred toAleppo withJózef Bem, where they helped to suppress a serious riot.
After Bem's death Kmety moved to London, where his first work was published. At the beginning of theCrimean War Kmety returned to the Ottoman Empire where he was defeated by the Russians at theSiege of Kars on 29 September 1855.[nb 1] When GeneralWilliam Fenwick Williams wanted to give up the castle, Kmety decided to engage combat with the enemy's troops. Because of that Kmety received an award from the Ottoman government.
In 1861 Kmety retired and returned to London where he died in 1865.
In recognition of his help, after Kmety's death the Turks erected a statue that still stands inKensal Green Cemetery (London). Kmety never married and had no children.
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