William Schaw Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart
| The Earl Cathcart | |
|---|---|
The First Earl Cathcart
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Cath |
| Born |
17 September 1755 Petersham, England |
| Died | 16 June 1843 (aged 87) Glasgow, Scotland |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Rank | General |
| Commands held |
Commander-in-Chief, Scotland Commander-in-Chief, Ireland |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Knight of the Order of the Thistle Order of St. Andrew (Russia) Order of St. George of the Fourth Degree (Russia) |
General William Schaw Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart KT, PC, PC (Ire) (17 September 1755 – 16 June 1843) was a Scottish soldier and diplomatist.
Cathcart born at Petersham, London, on 17 September 1755, and educated at Eton College.
In 1771 he went to St. Petersburg, where his father, Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart, a general in the army, was ambassador. He became an excellent horseman in Russia then from 1773 to 1777 he studied law at the University of Glasgow and was afterwards called to the Scottish Bar. However, after succeeding to the lordship of parliament in 1776 he obtained a commission in the 7th Dragoons.
Proceeding to America in 1777, he had before the close of his first campaign twice won promotion on the field of battle. He transferred to the 17th Light Dragoons. In 1778 he further distinguished himself in outpost work, and at the Battle of Monmouth he commanded an irregular corps, the British Legion, with conspicuous success; for a time also he acted as quartermaster-general to the forces in America. He returned home in 1780, and in February 1781 was made captain and lieutenant colonel in the Coldstream Guards.
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