George Wade

George Wade
File:Georgewade.jpg Field Marshal George Wade
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1690 – 1748
Rank	Field Marshal
Battles/wars	War of the Spanish Succession, Jacobite rebellion , Battle of Dettingen

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, joined the British Army in 1690 and served in Flanders in 1692, earning a promotion to Captain. During the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–13) he first served under Marlborough, gaining promotion to major and lieutenant colonel in 1702. In 1704 he served on the staff of Henri de Massue, 1st Earl of Galway, distinguishing himself at Alcantara 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 attempt politics before becoming involved in the suppression of the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. 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 of road, plus 40 bridges (including the Tay Bridge at Aberfeldy). The 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); with 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 1742 Wade won promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General and became a Privy Councillor. 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 as 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. It still remains in official versions, but is rarely played.

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.

See also

• List of British Field Marshals
• William Caulfeild