Major-GeneralHon. Sir George CathcartGCB (12 May 1794 – 5 November 1854) was a Scottish general and diplomat. He was killed in action at the Battle of Inkerman during the Crimean War.
Military career
Cathcart was born in Renfrewshire, son of William Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart. After receiving his education at Eton and in Edinburgh, he was commissioned into the Life Guards in 1810. In 1813 he went to Russia to serve as aide-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]
At the start of the Crimean War, he was appointed to command the 4th infantry division. The British government gave him a "dormant commission" which meant that if something were to happen to Lord Raglan, Cathcart would take command.[1] At the Battle of the Alma in September 1854, his division saw no action and after the Battle of Balaclava, where his division was called into action, his dormant commission was revoked.[1] He advised an infantry assault on Sevastopol, thinking it could be taken, but was turned down by Lord Raglan.[1]
He took command of the 1st Brigade during the Battle 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 the 20th Regiment of Foot on 5 November 1854.[1]
Personal life
On 12 May 1824, Cathcart married his first and second cousin Lady Georgiana Greville (died 12 December 1871), daughter of Louisa Cathcart and Hon. Robert Fulke Greville. They had one son and seven daughters who all died unmarried.[4]
Jane (21 October 1825 – 23 March 1903)
Louisa Margaret (13 August 1827 – 12 March 1835), died in childhood
Georgiana Mary (20 April 1829 – 7 June 1852)
George Greville (13 December 1832 – 12 May 1841), died in childhood
