George Macartney (British Army officer)

Lieutenant-General George Macartney or Maccartney (c. 1660–1730) was an Irish officer of the British Army.

Biography

He was the elder son of George Macartney, son of the last of the Macartneys of Blacket in Scotland, who had settled at Belfast in 1630; his mother Martha was of the same family as Sir John Davies. His younger brother Isaac served as High Sheriff of Antrim and was the father of William Macartney MP.^[1]

Macartney entered the Army during the reign of William III,^[2] and served with much credit under the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene.^[1] On 23 April 1703 he was promoted to the colonelcy of a newly raised regiment of foot, with which he served three campaigns under Marlborough on the Continent. He afterwards transferred his services to Spain, and commanded a brigade of infantry at the battle of Almanza, where he highly distinguished himself, and was taken prisoner. In 1709 he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and in 1710 to that of lieutenant-general.^[2]

In 1712 Macartney had the misfortune to act as second to Lord Mohun, when the latter fought the celebrated duel with the Duke of Hamilton, in which both the Duke and Lord Mohun lost their lives. Colonel Macartney, who was a staunch Whig and Protestant, was accused by the Tory party of having stabbed the Duke while he and Lord Mohun were rolling on the ground mortally wounded, and a price being laid on his head, had to fly for his life. He proceeded to Hanover, where he remained until the death of Queen Anne, and returned to England with George I, whose favour and confidence he enjoyed. Soon after his return he demanded to be tried for the offence which had been laid to his charge, and on the evidence of the keepers of Hyde Park, who had witnessed the duel throughout all its phases, was honourably acquitted.^[1] His former regiment having been disbanded at the peace of Utrecht, he was appointed to the colonelcy of the Royal North British Fusiliers on 12 July 1716,^[3] from which he was removed on 9 March 1727 to the Carabiniers, and he retained this appointment until his decease on 7 July 1730.^[2] He was at the time of his death commander-in-chief of the forces in Ireland and governor of Portsmouth. He married the widow of General Douglas, and by her had issue.^[1]

References

1. Sir Bernard Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland (1863) vol. II, p. 926.
2. Richard Cannon, Historical Record of the Sixth Regiment of Dragoon Guards, or the Carabineers (1839) p. 96.
3. Cannon, Historical Record of the Twenty-First Regiment, or the Royal North British Fusiliers (1849) p. 56.

External links