George Hanger
Encyclopedia
George Hanger, 4th Baron Coleraine (13 October 1751 – 31 March 1824) was a British
soldier
, author
, and eccentric
.
, being the third son of seven children. His father, was Gabriel Hanger, a
Parliamentarian
, who in 1762 was created Baron Coleraine
.
George Hanger's education was geared towards entering the army
. He was sent to Reading School
and then Eton
before going to the University of Göttingen. After joining the army of Frederick the Great, he returned to England
and purchased an Ensigncy
in the 1st Regiment of Footguards in 1771 . About this time, he married his first wife, a gypsy, who soon ran off with a tinker
.
In the army he gained the reputation of being a womaniser, to the detriment of his military duties. He purchased a Lieutenant
cy in 1776, but retired in disgust after a more junior officer purchased promotion over him. He then purchased a Captaincy in the Hessian Jägers. He served throughout the American Revolution
, transferring to Sir Banastre Tarleton's
British Legion as commander of its light dragoons, and rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1793.
He also became involved in a minor literary feud, in 1789, publishing An Address to the Army; In Reply To 'Strictures', by Roderick M'Kenzie (Late Lieutenant in the 71st Regiment) On Tarleton's History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781. The full title of M'Kenzie's book was Strictures on Colonel Banaster Tarleton's History of the Southern Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 and was itself critical of Tarleton's 1787 account of the Battle of Camden
called A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 in the Southern Provinces of North America. Discussion of this apparently continues to this day.
After returning to England, he became a companion of the Prince Regent (later King George IV
). They became great friends, the prince apparently loving both his humour and his exploits in both the army and with women, and appointing him Equerry
in 1791. The only surviving painting of Hanger comes from this period. Commissioned by the prince, it remains in the Royal Collection
. Hanger was also the butt of caricaturists and many prints of him survive. The National Portrait Gallery in London has a collection of twenty prints by James Gillray
satirising him. In 1795 he purchased the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 125th Foot. Six months later he exchanged into the 1st Battalion of the 82nd Foot.
In 1814, he declined a seat in the House of Commons
(even though his father and two of his brothers had done so before him). Instead, he took a place in the House of Lords
when he succeeded to the family title. In need of money, he sold his Lieutenant-Colonel's ciommission in 1796 and purchased an Ensigncy in the 70th Foot and was appointed Captain-Commissary in the Royal Artillery
in 1806. He died in London
in 1824, at the age of 74.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and eccentric
Eccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
.
Biography
He was born into a prosperous family in GloucestershireGloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, being the third son of seven children. His father, was Gabriel Hanger, a
Parliamentarian
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, who in 1762 was created Baron Coleraine
Baron Coleraine
Baron Coleraine is a title that has been created three times, twice in the Peerage of Ireland and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of Ireland in 1625 for Hugh Hare...
.
George Hanger's education was geared towards entering the army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
. He was sent to Reading School
Reading School
Reading School is a state-funded, selective academy school for boys in the English town of Reading. It is notable for tracing its history back to the school of Reading Abbey, making it one of the oldest schools in England. There are no tuition fees for day pupils, and boarders only pay for food and...
and then Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
before going to the University of Göttingen. After joining the army of Frederick the Great, he returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and purchased an Ensigncy
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 1st Regiment of Footguards in 1771 . About this time, he married his first wife, a gypsy, who soon ran off with a tinker
Tinker
A tinker was originally an itinerant tinsmith, who mended household utensils. The term "tinker" became used in British society to refer to marginalized persons...
.
In the army he gained the reputation of being a womaniser, to the detriment of his military duties. He purchased a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
cy in 1776, but retired in disgust after a more junior officer purchased promotion over him. He then purchased a Captaincy in the Hessian Jägers. He served throughout the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, transferring to Sir Banastre Tarleton's
Banastre Tarleton
General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB was a British soldier and politician.He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the American War of Independence. He became the focal point of a propaganda campaign claiming that he had fired upon surrendering Continental...
British Legion as commander of its light dragoons, and rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1793.
He also became involved in a minor literary feud, in 1789, publishing An Address to the Army; In Reply To 'Strictures', by Roderick M'Kenzie (Late Lieutenant in the 71st Regiment) On Tarleton's History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781. The full title of M'Kenzie's book was Strictures on Colonel Banaster Tarleton's History of the Southern Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 and was itself critical of Tarleton's 1787 account of the Battle of Camden
Battle of Camden
The Battle of Camden was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War...
called A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 in the Southern Provinces of North America. Discussion of this apparently continues to this day.
After returning to England, he became a companion of the Prince Regent (later King George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
). They became great friends, the prince apparently loving both his humour and his exploits in both the army and with women, and appointing him Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
in 1791. The only surviving painting of Hanger comes from this period. Commissioned by the prince, it remains in the Royal Collection
Royal Collection
The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...
. Hanger was also the butt of caricaturists and many prints of him survive. The National Portrait Gallery in London has a collection of twenty prints by James Gillray
James Gillray
James Gillray , was a British caricaturist and printmaker famous for his etched political and social satires, mainly published between 1792 and 1810.- Early life :He was born in Chelsea...
satirising him. In 1795 he purchased the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 125th Foot. Six months later he exchanged into the 1st Battalion of the 82nd Foot.
In 1814, he declined a seat in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
(even though his father and two of his brothers had done so before him). Instead, he took a place in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
when he succeeded to the family title. In need of money, he sold his Lieutenant-Colonel's ciommission in 1796 and purchased an Ensigncy in the 70th Foot and was appointed Captain-Commissary in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in 1806. He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1824, at the age of 74.
Further reading
- Hanger's biography
- Hanger also published two other works:
- Life, Adventures, and Opinions (London, 1801), about his life and other military subjects.
- Lives, Adventures, and Sharping Tricks of Eminent Gamesters (1804), about his life.