George Arthur French KCMG (1841 - 1921)

Born 19 Jun 1841 in County Roscommon, Ireland

Husband of Janet Clarke (Innes) French — married 18 Dec 1862 in Kingston, Canada

Descendants

Died 7 Jul 1921 at age 80 in Kensington, London, England

Biography

George French KCMG is Notable.

Major General Sir George French KCMG was a British Army officer whose lifetime of public service commenced in the Royal Irish Constabulary and included establishing the Canadian Militia School of Gunnery, serving as the first commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police, commanding the Royal Artillery in Bombay, serving as commandant of the Colonial Military Forces of Queensland and New South Wales, and 'retiring' to guard the crown jewels at London.

Born George Arthur French on 19th June 1841 at County Roscommon, Ireland, he was the eldest son of John French and Isabella Hamilton.^[1]

After serving briefly in the Royal Irish Constabulary, George began his military education at Sandhurst, but transferred to the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich (London) and became a gunner in the Royal Artillery (RA). Commissioned as a Lieutenant on 19th June 1860, he served with the RA in England and then in Kingston, Canada from 1862 to 1866.^[2]

George married Janet Innes, daughter of Robert Innes, formerly of the 37th Regiment, on 18th December 1862 at Kingston, Canada.^[2]

In 1869, he was seconded to the Canadian militia as inspector of artillery and warlike stores. Conscious of the impending withdrawal of imperial forces from Canada, George urged the Department of Militia and Defence, in his report of 1st January 1870, "the absolute necessity of raising, permanently, a few batteries of garrison artillery." George was authorized on 20th October 1871 to set up and command the Canadian Militia School of Gunnery (A Battery, Garrison Artillery) at Kingston.^[2]

When the government of Sir John Macdonald created the North-West Mounted Police in 1873, George was appointed its first commissioner, partly due to his experience from Ireland and partly due to Macdonald being the member of parliament for Kingston. "As [the first] commissioner of the North West Mounted Police (1873-76), he organized the force and gave it its military character."^[3] He resigned from the NWMP in July 1876, due largely to the lack of political support from the Alexander Mackenzie government.^[2] Whilst in Canada he saw action in both the Red River Rebellion and the North-West Frontier.^[1] George was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) on 30th May 1877 in appreciation of his service in Canada.^[4]

Back in England, George was appointed inspector of warlike stores at Devonport, a post he held from 1878 to 1883.^[2]

From 1883 to 1891, George was appointed commandant of the Colonial Military Force, Queensland, with the rank of Colonel; during which time he re-organized the militia and permanent forces along the lines of the Canadian model.^[4]

On his return to England in 1891, he was put in command of the RA at Dover. From June 1892 to October 1893 he served as chief instructor at the School of Gunnery in Shoeburyness. In November 1893, he was appointed staff colonel commanding the Royal Artillery in Bombay,^[2] including the Bombay Native Artillery.^[5]

George's final colonial appointment, from early 1896, was as commandant of the Colonial Military Force, New South Wales.^[2] He was promoted to Major General on 25th May 1900 and, on 3rd September 1902, retired from the army after an illustrious career.^[6]

George was created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the November King's Birthday Honours that year.^[1] For the next nineteen years he assumed another important civic duty, guarding the crown jewels at London.^[1]

Having been widowed for four years, Sir George French passed away, aged 80 years, at Kensington, London on 7th July 1921, and is buried beside his wife in Brompton Cemetery, London. His death was registered in Kensington in the third quarter of 1921^[7]. He was survived by two sons and three daughters.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Wikipedia profile: George Arthur French; accessed 26 Aug 2019
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Dictionary of Canada Biography: FRENCH, Sir GEORGE ARTHUR
3. ↑ The Canadian Encyclopedia
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} The Dictionary of Australasian Biography: Colonel George Arthur; accessed 26 Aug 2019
5. ↑ The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1883 - 1923) Wed 22 Nov 1893 Page 5 GENERAL CABLE NEWS; accessed 26 Aug 2019
6. ↑ London Gazette 2 Sep 1902 Issue: 27470 Page: 5685; accessed 26 Aug 2019
7. ↑ FreeBMD: Deaths Sep 1921, Surname: French, Given Name: George A., Age: 80, District: Kensington, Volume: 1a, Page: 87.

See also:

• ThePeerage.com: Maj.-Gen. Sir George Arthur French
• Wikipedia: George Arthur French
• Wikidata: Item Q5536443, en:Wikipedia