George Charles D'Aguilar

Major-General Sir George Charles d'Aguilar, (; January 1784 – 21 May 1855) was a British Army officer who served as Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong (1843–1848).

Background He was born the son of Solomon d'Aguilar (1752–1817) of Liverpool and Margaret Gillmer (1753–1829). The d'Aguilars were a military family directly descended from Baron Diego d'Aguilar, a Jewish nobleman and businessman in the court of Maria Theresa of Austria. He was baptised Anglican at St Maurice's Church, Winchester in Hampshire on 10 February 1785. His first cousin and contemporary, Lieutenant-Colonel George Thomas d'Aguilar (1783–1839) married Catherine Burton, aunt of the noted explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton. Ephraim Lópes Pereira d'Aguilar, 2nd Baron d'Aguilar was an uncle.

Military service He entered the army in 1799 as an ensign with the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot which was stationed in India. He remained there until 1808, and during that time served for three years as Adjutant of the 86th Foot (consisting of nearly the whole of Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley's administration) and two years on the general staff of the army, as brigade major. Having been promoted to a company in the 81st, he returned to England in May, 1809, and the following month embarked for Walcheren. After the fall of Flushing, Netherlands he was appointed aide-de-camp to Lieutenant-General Mahon, afterwards Lord Hartland, until he returned to England with the cavalry under Mahon. In 1809 he married Eliza, second daughter of Peter Drinkwater of Irwell House, Lancashire.

Altogether d'Aguilar served for twenty six years on the general staff, during eight of which he was assistant adjutant-general at the Horse Guards, principally under Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, and for twelve years assistant adjutant-general of the army in Ireland. In 1841, he was promoted to major-general. He commanded the 1847 Expedition to Canton, which captured the forts of the Canton River from the Bocca Tigris to the city of Canton. The following year, 1848, he returned to England and was given the colonelcy of the 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot.

In 1851 he was appointed to command South-West District, remaining in that post until 1852.

D'Aguilar was a water-colour artist of professional standard.

Namesakes Cape D'Aguilar, Hong Kong, China D'Aguilar Street, Hong Kong, China D'Aguilar National Park, Queensland, Australia Town of D'Aguilar, Queensland, Australia