Military Career
He 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. He saw service in the United States and Flanders, distinguished himself at the bombardment of Copenhagen and represented England at the court of Russia and during the Congress of Vienna.
He was aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington in 1815 at the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo.
In 1852 to 1853, as Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, he granted the first constitution to the colony, ended the 8th Cape Frontier War and crushed the Basutos.
In 1853 he was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces.
He was killed during the Battle of Inkerman in the Crimean War, on 5 November 1854.
The town of Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa is named for him.
Read more about this topic: George Cathcart
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