George Wade

For other people named George Wade, see George Wade (disambiguation).

George Wade
Field Marshal George Wade
Born	1673 Kilavally, Westmeath, Ireland
Died	March 14, 1748 (aged 74 or 75)
Allegiance	Great Britain
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1690–1748
Rank	Field Marshal
Battles/wars	War of the Spanish Succession Jacobite rebellion War of the Austrian Succession

Field Marshal George Wade (1673 – March 14, 1748) served as a British military commander and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces.

Early career

Wade, born in Kilavally, Westmeath in Ireland, was commissioned into the Earl of Bath's Regiment in 1690 and served in Flanders in 1692, during the Nine Years War, earning a promotion to Captain in 1695. During the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–13) he first served under Marlborough, gaining promotion to major as well as lieutenant colonel in 1703. In 1704 he served on the staff of Henri de Massue, 1st Earl of Galway, distinguishing himself at Alcántara and Vila Nova in 1706 and at Almanza in 1707. He won promotion to Brigadier General in 1708. He served as second-in-command to James Stanhope in Minorca in 1708 before returning to Spain in 1710, where at the Battle of Saragossa he earned a promotion to Major General.

Major General Wade returned home to join in the suppression of the Jacobite Rising of 1715. He entered politics serving as Member of Parliament for Hindon from 1715 to 1722 and then as Member of Parliament for Bath from 1722 to 1747, where his house is now a grade I listed building.

The government of George I sent Wade to inspect Scotland in 1724. He recommended the construction of barracks, bridges and proper roads to assist in the control of the region and within a month received appointment as Commander in Chief of His Majesty's forces, castles, forts and barracks in North Britain, tasked with carrying out his own recommendations. He occupied this position until 1740. Between 1725 and 1737 Wade directed the construction of some 250 miles (400 km) of road, plus 40 bridges (including the Tay Bridge at Aberfeldy). General Wade's military roads linked the garrisons at Ruthven, Fort George, Fort Augustus, and Fort William. He also organised a militia named "Highland Watches", calling on members of the landed gentry. He raised the first six companies in 1725 (three of Campbells and one each of Frasers, Grants, and Munros); he raised four more in 1739, reorganized as the Black Watch regiment. He still had the time to sign his support to the Foundling Hospital in London, acting as a founding governor in 1739 of this politically fashionable charity.

War of the Austrian Succession

In 1743 he became a Field Marshal with the appointment to joint command of the Anglo-Austrian force in Flanders against the French in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748), leading the British troops under George II at Dettingen (27 June 1743). He resigned from his command in March 1744, returning home to become commander-in-chief. He was given command of British forces in response to a planned French invasion, but this was forced to be abandoned because of inclement weather.

Jacobite rebellion

When the Jacobites rose again in 1745 the speed of their advance from Scotland left Wade scrambling. He failed to counter their march into England and was dismissed, Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland replacing him and heading the army for the decisive Battle of Culloden in 1746.

Wade received mention in a verse added to God Save the King circa 1745, but dropped by the time the song gained adoption as the British national anthem towards the end of the eighteenth century.

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade
May, by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush
And, like a torrent, rush
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the King.

A second reference in verse is said to be inscribed on a stone at the start of one of his military roads in Scotland:

If you had seen this road before it was made.
You would lift up your hands and bless General Wade.

Wade died in 1748 and is buried at Westminster Abbey.

See also

• List of British Field Marshals
• William Caulfeild

References

• Heathcote, T.A. (1999). The British Field Marshals 1736-1997. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5
• Sir K.S Mackenzie, "General Wade & his Roads", Paper held before Inverness Scientific Society 13 April 1897.

External links

•  "Wade, George". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 
• Colin McCall, Routes, Roads, Regiments and Rebellions

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Reynolds Calthorpe, junior	Member of Parliament for Hindon 1715–1722 With: Reynolds Calthorpe John Pitt	Succeeded by Henry Ludlow Coker
Preceded by Robert Gay	Member of Parliament for Bath 1722–1747 With: John Codrington Robert Gay John Codrington Philip Bennet Robert Henley	Succeeded by General Sir John Ligonier
Military offices
Preceded by Sir Charles Wills	Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance 1741–1748	Succeeded by Sir John Ligonier
Preceded by The Earl of Stair	Commander-in-Chief of the Forces 1745	Succeeded by Duke of Cumberland