James Yorke Scarlett

James Yorke Scarlett

Sir James Yorke Scarlett GCB ( February 1, 1799 - December 6, 1871 ) was a British general and participant in the Crimean War .

Life

Scarlett was born the second son of James Scarlett, 1st Baron Abinger. He joined the British Army in 1818 . From 1836 to 1841 he was a member of the House of Commons for the Conservative Party . In 1840 Scarlett became commander of the 5th Dragoon Guards . During the Crimean War, Scarlett's regiment was part of the Heavy Brigade, which he commanded there.

At the age of 55, Scarlett witnessed his first battle, the Battle of Balaklava . It gained notoriety through two incidents that have entered British usage, The Thin Red Line and the Light Brigade attack . Scarlett led the lesser-known Heavy Brigade attack. Compared to the attack by the Light Brigade, however, this played a decisive role in the outcome of the battle. Scarlett attacked around 3,000 Russians with 800 men. Scarlett was promoted to major general for the successful attack and was named Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath . After a short stay in the home, he returned as Brevet - Lieutenant General to the Crimea back to the command of the entire British cavalry to take over.

After the end of the Crimean War he commanded the cavalry in Aldershot until 1860. From 1860 to 1865 he was adjutant-general of the army and then commander of the Aldershot garrison , the largest camp of the British Army. He held this command until his discharge from the army in 1870. He passed away the following year.

After Alfred Tennyson had published his famous poem The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854 , he wrote The Charge of the Heavy Brigade about Scarlett's attack at Balaklava in 1882 .