Appointed 13th August 1728.
The Honorable Charles Cathcart, son of Alan, seventh Lord Cathcart, entered the army in the eighteenth year of his age, and in 1704 he commanded a company in Colonel Macartney’s regiment (since disbanded), serving on the frontiers of Holland. In 1706 he commanded a troop in the Scots Greys, which corps distinguished itself at the battle of Ramilies in the same year: in 1707 he was brigade major to the Earl of Stair. Continuing in active service with the army under the Duke of Marlborough, he acquired the reputation of a brave and zealous officer: in 1709 he was appointed major of the Scots Greys, and was soon afterwards promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy of the regiment. On the accession of King George I., he was appointed one of the grooms of His Majesty’s bedchamber. In the autumn of 1715 he joined the forces under the Duke of Argyle at Stirling, and served against the rebels under the Earl of Mar. On the 23rd of October, he was detached against a hundred rebel horse and two hundred foot, whom he attacked with his dragoons, killed many, and took seventeen prisoners. At the battle of Sheriffmuir on the 13th of November, in the same year, he charged the insurgents at the head of the Scots Greys, and contributed materially to the overthrow of the left wing of the rebel army. His Majesty rewarded him with the colonelcy of the ninth foot, in 1717; but he only retained this appointment eleven months. In 1728 he obtained the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, and was removed, in 1731, to the eighth dragoons. In 1732 he succeeded to the title of Lord Cathcart; he was appointed lord of the bedchamber to King George II. in the following year, and was promoted to the colonelcy of the seventh horse, now sixth dragoon guards. In 1739 he was advanced to the rank of major-general. His Lordship was chosen one of the representatives of the Scottish peerage in several parliaments; and was governor of Duncannon fort, and of Londonderry. An attack on the Spanish possessions in America having been resolved upon, in the year 1739, Lord Cathcart was selected to command the expedition: at the same time he was appointed commander-in-chief in America; but he died on his passage in December, 1740, and was buried on the beach of Prince Rupert’s Bay, Dominica, where a monument was erected to his memory.
William Hargrave,
Appointed 1st January 1731.
William Hargrave was appointed ensign in a regiment of foot in 1694, and he served in the wars of Queen Anne. He proved a good and useful officer, but was not conspicuous for any quality calculated to attract attention. After serving twenty years he was appointed major of the thirty-sixth foot, and subsequently lieut.-colonel of the seventh Royal Fusiliers. In 1731 he was promoted to the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST foot, and was appointed to the ninth in 1737. He was removed to the seventh royal fusiliers, and promoted to the rank of major-general in 1739, and was advanced to the rank of lieut.-general in 1743. He died in 1751.
William Handasyd,
Appointed 27th January 1737.
Colonel William Handasyd was promoted from the fifteenth foot to the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment on the 27th of January 1737, in succession to Colonel William Hargrave, who was removed to the ninth foot. Brigadier-General Handasyd died near Hammersmith on the 27th of February 1745.
Lord Henry Beauclerk,
Appointed 22nd April 1745.