George Maccartney

Lieutenant-General George Macartney (or MacCartney; 1660–1730) was an Irish-born professional soldier who went into exile to escape charges for his role in the 1712 Hamilton–Mohun duel. He was later acquitted and restored to his military rank.

Personal details George Macartney was born in 1660, elder son of "Black George" Macartney (1630–1702), a wealthy Belfast merchant, and Martha (died 1705), daughter of Sir John Davies, Attorney-General for Ireland from 1606 to 1619. His younger brother Isaac was later High Sheriff of Antrim.

In later life, he married Anne Douglas; they had a number of children who predeceased them. He was wounded and captured at the Battle of Almanza, where the regiment suffered heavy casualties; he was quickly exchanged and returned to the Low Countries in 1709, where he served as a volunteer at Malplaquet and subsequently made Major-general. His regiment fought at the sieges of Douai and Béthune in 1710, after which he became Lieutenant-General.

Soon after this, he demanded to be tried for the offence which had been laid to his charge, and on the evidence of the keepers of Hyde Park, who had witnessed the duel throughout all its phases, was honourably acquitted. from which he was removed on 9 March 1727 to the Carabiniers, and he retained this appointment until his death on 7 July 1730.