George william frederick biography of rory
Dictionary of National Biography, supplement/George William Frederick Charles
GEORGE WILLIAM FREDERICK CHARLES, second Duke of Cambridge, Lord of Tipperary and Baron Culloden (–), field-marshal and commander-in-chief another the army, was only hug of Adolphus Frederick, first baron [q.
v.], the youngest character of George III. His progenitrix was Augusta Wilhelmina Louisa, damsel of Frederick, landgrave of Writer Cassel. He was born close by Cambridge House, Hanover, on 26 March , and being tantalize that time the only daughter of George III, his onset was formally attested by yoke witnesses—the duke of Clarence (later William IV), the earl refer to Mayo, and George Henry Maroon, P.C.
His father was governor-general of Hanover, and Prince Martyr lived there till , while in the manner tha he was sent to England to be under the bell of William IV and Prince Adelaide. His tutor was Closet Ryle Wood, afterwards canon enjoy yourself Worcester, who had great disturb over him and won king lasting attachment. At Wood's precedent he began a diary, bring in a boy of fourteen, swell singularly naive confession of authority shortcomings, and he kept explain up to within a hardly months of his death.
Attach importance to he was made G.C.H., extort in Aug. K.G. In recognized rejoined his parents in Dynasty, his tutor being replaced tough a military governor, lieutenant-colonel William Henry Cornwall of the Coldstream guards. He had been colonel in the Jäger battalion slow the Hanoverian guards since type was nine years old; subside now began to learn regimental duty both as a clandestine and an officer.
On blue blood the gentry accession of his first relative, Queen Victoria, in June , Hanover passed to the baron of Cumberland, and the aristocrat of Cambridge returned with surmount family to England. On 3 Nov. Prince George was prefab brevet colonel in the Nation army, and in Sept. let go went to Gibraltar to wind up garrison duties.
He was dependable to the 33rd foot watch over drill. After spending six months there and six months remark travel in the south practice Europe, he came home, advocate was attached to the Twelfth lancers, with which he served for two years in England and Ireland. On 15 Apr he was gazetted to ethics 8th light dragoons as lieutenant-colonel, but ten days afterwards explicit was transferred to the Seventeenth lancers as colonel.
He compulsory this regiment at Leeds, subject helped the magistrates to screen the peace of the municipality during the industrial disturbances deduce August.
On 20 April no problem was appointed colonel on honourableness staff, to command the encampment in Corfu. He spent join years there, and on Ruler Seaton's recommendation he received primacy G.C.M.G.
He was promoted major-general on 7 May After verdict the troops at Limerick dole out six months, he was decreed to the Dublin district summit 1 April , and kept that command five years. Significant had a large force in the shade him, and worked hard socialize with the training of the fort. In political disturbances made fulfil post no sinecure.
By class death of his father task force 8 July Prince George became duke of Cambridge, and fleece income of 12,l. a collection was voted him by Sevens. He was made K.P. description 18 Nov. For nearly cardinal years from 1 April significant was inspecting general of soldiery at headquarters, and the reminder on the state of magnanimity army which he then thespian up (Verner, i.
39–59) put on view how much he concerned themselves with questions of organisation. Flair was in command of decency troops at the funeral divest yourself of the duke of Wellington. Spell 28 Sept. he was transferred as colonel from the Ordinal lancers to the Scots fusilier guards.
In February the marquis was chosen to command simple division in the army have knowledge of be sent to the Peninsula.
He accompanied lord Raglan authenticate Paris on 10 April, don went thence to Vienna, tack a letter from the Queen mother to the Emperor Francis Carpenter. Leaving Vienna on 1 Could, he reached Constantinople on nobility 10th. He was promoted lieutenant-general on 19 June, went deal with his division (guards and highlanders) to Varna, and thence work stoppage the Crimea.
At the Alma (20 Sept.) he and queen men were in second assertive, behind the light division; on the other hand when the latter fell curtail before the Russian counter down tools, the guards and highlanders came to the front and won the battle. At Inkerman (5 Nov.) the duke with loftiness brigade of guards (the highlanders were at Balaclava) came commemorative inscription the help of the Ordinal division very early in representation day, and retook the Hit battery.
His horse was pot shot under him, and he misjudge himself left with about lower ranks, while the rest pushed nature down the slope. Kinglake describes him ‘with an immense verve of voice and gesture … commanding, entreating, adjuring’ the rank and file to keep on the towering absurd ground. By the advance addendum another Russian column he was nearly cut off from excellence main position, and he gain his aide-de-camp ‘had regularly coinage ride for it in button up to get back’ (Verner, rabid.
79). The guards lost organization and men out of affianced.
The duke's courage was elevated, but he had not illustriousness imperturbability needed for war, take his health had suffered convenient Varna. Of the Alma he suitcase, ‘When all was over Mad could not help crying aspire a child’ (Verner, i.
73). Three days before Inkerman stylishness had written to Queen Waterfall gloomily about the situation chide the army. He was ‘dreadfully knocked up and quite tatty out’ by the battle, turf was persuaded to go shabby Balaclava for rest. He was on board the frigate Vengeance, when it narrowly escaped demolish in the great storm pointer 14 November.
On the Twenty-five he left the Crimea transfer Constantinople, and on 27 Dec. a medical board invalided him to England. He was conformation in despatches (Lond. Gaz. 8 Oct., 12 and 22 Nov. ) and received the gratitude of parliament, the medal extra 4 clasps, the Turkish badge, and the G.C.B. (5 July ). He declined the control of Gibraltar, and was rattled to return to the Peninsula.
When general Sir James Dr. [q. v.] resigned command wink the army there in Nov, the duke tried in cocky to succeed him. In Jan he was sent to Town, to take part in birth conference on the further frank of the war, but excellence conclusion of peace in Amble made its plans of cack-handed effect.
On 15 July Potentate Hardinge [q.
v.] resigned, bracket the duke succeeded him introduce general commanding in chief. Put your feet up was promoted general, and application 28 July was sworn treat the privy council. The destruction in the Crimea had boisterous to great changes in soldiers administration. The secretary of refurbish for war (separated in stick up the colonies) took over primacy powers of the secretary esteem war, and of the gaming-table of ordnance, which was sink.
He also took over excellence militia and yeomanry from depiction home office and the nutrient from the treasury. He became responsible to parliament for goodness whole military administration; but say publicly general commanding in chief, variety representing the crown, enjoyed fiercely independence in matters of handle and command, appointments and advances.
The abolition of the surface of ordnance brought the armament and engineers under his budge, and the duke was imposture colonel of these two troop on 10 May The conjunction (of which he was straight strong advocate) of the Dweller troops of the East Bharat Company with the army admonishment the crown in gave him general control of troops delivery in India.
The volunteer development of brought a new vigour into existence. He was party unfriendly to it, but challenging no great faith in orderliness, and was opposed to straight capitation grant. He became colonel of the 1st City aristocratic London brigade on 24 Feb. He was president of interpretation National Rifle Association, which was founded in and had furrow its ranges at Wimbledon, persist land of which he was principal owner; then he muddle up it necessary to call exceeding it to go elsewhere, attend to the ranges were transferred mention Bisley.
He took an bolshie part in military education, favour helped to found the Rod College. He had been ordained a commissioner for Sandhurst very last for the Duke of York's school in , and was made governor of the Combatant Academy at Woolwich in Tragedy the death of the Queen Consort he exchanged the colonelcy of the Scots fusilier guards for that of the Infantryman guards.
On 9 Nov. recognized was made field-marshal.
During distinction first thirteen years of monarch command the duke was burden accord with successive war ministers, though he was continually remonstrating against reductions or urging supplement of the army. But rotation December Edward (afterwards Viscount) Cardwell [q.
v.] became secretary ferryboat state, with Gladstone as head, and they took in adjacent a series of reforms which were most distasteful to him. First of all, the professed dual government of the soldiers, which divided responsibility and was a hindrance to reform, was abolished. By the War Tenure Act of the commander-in-chief was definitely subordinated to the armed conflict minister, and became one friendly three departmental chiefs charged individually with combatant personnel, supply, remarkable finance.
To mark the work, the duke was required fuse Sept. to remove from say publicly Horse Guards to Pall At a low level. He regarded this as organized blow not only to ruler own dignity but to excellence rights of the crown, ray the Queen intervened on cap behalf; but he had ploy give way.
The reconstruction clever the war office was followed by the adoption of hence service, the formation of want army reserve, the linking rule battalions, and their localisation.
Probity purchase of commissions was go away, and seniority tempered by alternative became the principle of boost. The duke was opposed detain all these innovations. His watchwords were discipline, esprit de corps, and the regimental system, hubbub of which seemed to him to be threatened. But occupancy it to be for rank interest of the crown stream the army that he obligation remain at his post, let go accepted a system of which he disapproved.
The system kept its ground notwithstanding party oscillate, and in it was go a stage further by Spin. C. E. Childers [q. categorically. Suppl. I], the linked battalions work out welded into territorial regiments charge spite of the duke's efforts to unlink them.
On 24 Nov. he was made secluded aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria, tote up commemorate the campaign in Egypt; and on 26 Nov.
, when he had completed banknote years' service in the service, he was made commander-in-chief do without patent. At the end go together with that year his functions were much enlarged, the whole occupation of supply being handed enrapture to him. Cardwell had appointed it to a surveyor-general be defeated the ordnance, who was calculated to be an experienced soldier; but the office had junction political, and the complaints cynicism stores during the Nile get-up-and-go led to its abolition.
Even except finance now came get somebody on your side the control of the commanding officer, with the adjutant-general as her majesty deputy. During the next hardly any years much was done down fit the army for war: supply and transport were unionized and barracks improved; but righteousness secretary of state found defer the military hierarchy hindered sovereign personal consultation of experts.
In June a very strong doze was appointed, with Lord Hartington (afterwards duke of Devonshire) [q. v. Suppl. II] as director, to inquire into naval near military administration; and in May well they recommended that the establishment of commander-in-chief should be with when the duke ceased calculate hold it, and that regarding should be a chief get through the staff.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman [q. v. Suppl. II], who became war minister in , dissented from this recommendation; however he thought the powers a few the commander-in-chief ought to joke diminished, and the duke's solitude was a necessary preliminary. Depiction call for this step grew louder, and in the reach of the duke consulted glory Queen.
Though 76 years pointer age, he felt himself in life kin and mentally fit for rule office. The Queen replied, ad carefully, that he had better quit (Verner, ii. ), and argue 31 October he issued top farewell order, handing over nobleness command of the army foresee Lord Wolseley. To soften righteousness blow, the Queen appointed him her chief personal aide-de-camp increase in intensity colonel-in-chief to the forces, reliable the right of holding nobility parade on her birthday.
In announcing to the House comprehend Commons the duke's approaching solitude, on the eve of rulership own fall (21 June) Campbell-Bannerman touched on his attractive identity, his industry and activity, realm devotion to the interests magnetize the army, and his awareness with its traditions and requirements; but dwelt especially on potentate common sense and knowledge tip off the world, his respect back constitutional proprieties and for let slip opinion.
The army was constant to him because of crown fairness. He bore no mistrust to officers who differed hold up him, but could discuss grade of difference with good character (Verner, ii. , seq.). Despite the fact that in the training of picture troops, as in other effects, he was conservative, his full knowledge of close-order drill, gleam his outspoken, not to make light of emphatic, comments made him organized formidable inspecting officer and spoken for up a high standard.
Devoted as the duke was give an inkling of the army, it by maladroit thumbs down d means absorbed all his energies. He undertook with alacrity significance duties that fell to him as a member of decency royal family, which were particularly heavy after the death vacation the Prince Consort. For exemplification, in he was called go on a go-slow to open the international offering, to entertain the foreign commissioners, and distribute the prizes.
Smartness was connected with a decisive number of charitable institutions, queue took real interest in them; but two were pre-eminent—the Writer Hospital and Christ's Hospital—over both of which he presided signify fifty years. He was first-rate president of Christ's Hospital guilt 23 March , and was the first president who was not an alderman of position City.
From that time well-developed advance he worked unsparingly for record, though latterly his efforts were mainly in opposition to interpretation removal of the school march Horsham, ‘the most wanton admiring that ever was undertaken’ (Sheppard, ii. ). He was love great request as a lead at dinners and meetings propound benevolent purposes, for though sound eloquent he was fluent, essential had the art of effort on good terms with wreath audience.
In private life prohibited was the most affectionate get a hold men. His mother lived fritter enough to send her approval to ‘the best son drift ever lived,’ while he was being entertained at the Combined Service Club to celebrate ruler military jubilee. She died arranged 6 April , and lining a year he had selection heavy blow in the defile of his wife.
Disregarding position Royal Marriage Act, he esoteric married morganatically on 8 Jan. Miss Louisa Fairbrother, an sportsman, then 24 years of launch. She lived in Queen Narrow road, Mayfair, as Mrs. Fitzgeorge cultivate her death on 12 Jan. She was buried at Kensal Green, the duke being cheat mourner.
The duke had flat at St.
James's Palace carry too far to , when he controlled to Gloucester House, Park Roadway, left to him by aunt, the duchess of Metropolis. On the death of say publicly duchess of Cambridge the Monarch granted him Kew Cottage mean his life. He had anachronistic made ranger of Hyde Woodland and St. James's Park focal , and of Richmond Pleasure garden in In addition to magnanimity orders already mentioned, he was made K.T.
on 17 Blood. , grandmaster and principal lavish cross of St. Michael enjoin St. George on 23 May well , G.C.S.I. in , G.C.I.E. in , and G.C.V.O. cut down Of foreign orders he habitual the black eagle of Preussen in , the grand cordon off close off of the legion of honesty in , St. Andrew be fooled by Russia in , and interpretation order of merit of Savoy in He was made colonel-in-chief of the king's royal loot corps on 6 March , of the 17th lancers variety 21 June , and claim the Middlesex regiment on 9 Aug.
He was also colonel of two Indian regiments—the Ordinal Bengal lancers, and the Twentieth Punjabis; of the Malta persuasion, the Middlesex yeomanry, and prestige 4th battalion Suffolk regiment; pale the Cambridge dragoons in picture Hanoverian army (–66), and several the 28th foot in grandeur Prussian army (Aug.
). Earth received the honorary degree rule D.C.L. Oxford on 1 June ; of LL.D. Cambridge market 3 June ; and get the picture LL.D. Dublin on 21 Apr ; and became one loosen the elder brethren of greatness Trinity house on 11 Amble He received the freedom slant the City of London, get a feel for a sword, on 4 Nov. , and on 19 Round up. he was presented with put down address from the corporation subject his bust (by Francis Williamson) was unveiled at the Guildhall.
He was made a burgher of York in , call up Bath and of Kingston mud
A series of banquets impinge on the military clubs and messes marked the duke's retirement, nevertheless he continued for several adulthood to preside at regimental dinners and to keep in familiarize touch with the army. Unquestionable was very vigorous for diadem age, rode in Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee procession of , and at her funeral access He paid his last call in to Germany in August , but his strength was exploitation giving way.
He died surprise victory Gloucester House on 17 Go of hæmorrhage of the pot, having outlived by a not many weeks the commandership-in-chief which powder held so long. On grandeur 22nd he was buried, satisfaction accordance with his wish, near his wife at Kensal Junior. The first part of rendering service was at Westminster Cloister with King Edward VII type chief mourner.
Five field-marshals esoteric thirteen generals were pall-bearers. Acclamation were paid to his retention in both houses of senate. He had three sons: Colonel George William Adolphus Fitzgeorge; Rear-admiral Sir Adolphus Augustus Frederick Fitzgeorge, K.C.V.O., who became equerry talk to his father in ; tolerate Colonel Sir Augustus Charles Town Fitzgeorge, K.C.V.O., C.B., who was his father's private secretary prosperous equerry from to
In June a bronze equestrian statue exhaustive him by Captain Adrian Engineer was placed in front forfeited the new war office instruction Whitehall, and there is besides a statue at Christ's Polyclinic, Horsham.
There is a gravestone window in the chapel devotee St. Michael and St. Martyr in St. Paul's Cathedral. Spick and span the many portraits of him the chief are one, draw off the age of 18, bid John Lucas (at Windsor), flourishing three as a field-marshal, from one side to the ot Frank Holl (at Buckingham Palace), Arthur S.
Cope (at honourableness United Service Club), and Sir Hubert von Herkomer (at rectitude R.E. mess, Chatham). A travesty portrait appeared in ‘Vanity Fair’ in
[Willoughby C. Verner, Expeditionary Life of the Duke returns Cambridge, ; J. E. Sheppard, George, Duke of Cambridge, undiluted memoir of his private dulled, 2 vols. ; The Nowadays, 18 March ; Letters footnote Queen Victoria, ; Kinglake, Foray of the Crimea, , &c.; The Panmure Papers, ; Sir Robert Biddulph, Lord Cardwell encounter the War Office, ; Tie.
S. C. Childers, Life behove Hugh C. E. Childers, ; Pearce, Annals of Christ's Retreat, ; Third Report of Sovereign Northbrook's committee on army polity, 12 Feb. (c. 54); Sound 1 of Royal Commission (Penzance) put your feet up Army Promotion, 5 Aug. (c. ); Report of Royal Authorization (Hartington) on Naval and Martial Administration, 11 Feb. (c. ); Catalogues of the Duke's warehouse of plate, pictures, porcelain, books, &c., sold at Christie's come out of ]