Quick Facts
Biography
Lieutenant-General Charles Schaw Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart KT (21 March 1721 – 14 August 1776) was a British soldier and diplomat. He was also chief of the Clan Cathcart.
Biography
The son of Charles Cathcart, 8th Lord Cathcart and Marion Shaw, he was born on 21 March 1721. Opposed to the restoration of the Stuart monarchy, he became an aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland and during the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745, was shot in the face. Joshua Reynolds' portrait (1753-5) shows the black silk patch he used to cover the scar on his cheek. This seemingly earned him the soubriquet 'Patch Cathcart'. The following year at the Battle of Culloden, again acting as ADC to Cumberland, Cathcart was once more wounded in battle.
Charles was the last Lord Cathcart to inherit the family estate of Sundrum. Upon inheriting his mother's estates in Greenock he sold Sundrum to James Murray of Broughton in 1758.
In 1763 he was created a Knight of the Order of the Thistle.
In February 1768 he was appointed ambassador at St Petersburg and was well received by Catherine the Great. He served at the Russian court until 1772. On his return to Britain he was elected Rector of Glasgow University in 1773.
He died on 14 August 1776.
Personal life and children
On 24 July 1753 he married Jane Hamilton (1722–1771), daughter of Captain Lord Archibald Hamilton and Lady Jane Hamilton.
They had nine children:
- Jane (20 May 1754-05 Dec 1790), first wife of the fourth Duke of Atholl.
- William Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart (17 Sept. 1755–16 Jun 1843)
- Mary (01 Mar 1757-26 June 1792), a celebrated beauty, who married Thomas Graham, 1st Baron Lynedoch
- Louisa (01 Jun 1758-11 Jul 1843), married 1st, David Murray (1727-1796), 2nd Earl of Mansfield; married 2nd, her cousin Hon. Robert Fulke Greville
- Charles (28 Dec 1759-10 June 1788)
- John (23 Apr 1761-00 Jan 1762)
- Archibald (25 Jul 1764-10 Oct 1841)
- [a son](stillborn)(07 Jun 1768)
- Catherine Charlotte (08 Jul 1770-20 Oct 1794), died unmarried
- "The Honourable Mrs Graham (1757 - 1792)". National Galleries Scotland.
Ranks
He held the following ranks:
- Captain, 1742
- Colonel, 1750
- Major-General, 1758
- Lieutenant-General, 1760