Alan Frederick Cathcart, 3rd Earl Cathcart (1828–1905) was a wealthy landowner and writer on agriculture. Cathcart introduced the term "economic ornithology" at a time when there was a public debate over whether the English sparrow was a pest or a friend of the farmer.

Early life

Cathcart was the second, but eldest surviving, son of

Charles Cathcart, 2nd Earl Cathcart General Charles Murray Cathcart, 2nd Earl Cathcart (21 December 1783 – 16 July 1859), styled Lord Greenock between 1814 and 1843, was a British Army general who became Governor General of the Province of Canada (26 November 1845 – ...

and the former Henrietta Mather (second daughter of Thomas Mather). His father was the Commander-in-Chief, Scotland and of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

and served as the

Governor-General of Canada The governor general of Canada (french: gouverneure générale du Canada) is the federal viceregal representative of the . The is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but resides in oldest and most populous realm, t ...

. He was educated in Edinburgh at the

Scottish Naval and Military Academy The Scottish Naval and Military Academy in Edinburgh was a school opened on 8 November 1825 and closed in 1869. It catered mostly to young gentlemen intending a career with the Army, Navy or, especially, the forces of the East India Company. In 18 ...

, which was founded in 1825 and closed in 1869.

Career

He joined the British Army in Canada as a member of the

Royal Welsh Fusiliers The Royal Welch Fusiliers ( cy, Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, and part of the Prince of Wales' Division, that was founded in 1689; shortly after the Glorious Revolution. In 1702, it was designated ...

. He was an Honorary Colonel of the 1st Volunteer Battalion

Yorkshire Regiment The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) (abbreviated YORKS) is an infantry regiment of the British Army, created by the amalgamation of three historic regiments in 2006. It lost one battalion as part of the Army 2020 defence ...

, assisted in raising the battalion, and was awarded the

Volunteer Officers' Decoration The Volunteer Officers' Decoration, post-nominal letters VD, was instituted in 1892 as an award for long and meritorious service by officers of the United Kingdom's Volunteer Force. Award of the decoration was discontinued in the United Kingdom ...

. Upon his marriage he resigned from the army and devoted himself to agriculture and county business in

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...

. Cathcart was president of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1872–1873. He owned 5554 acres.

Personal life

On 2 April 1850 Cathcart married Elizabeth Mary Crompton (1831–1902), the eldest daughter and heiress of

Sir Samuel Crompton, 1st Baronet Sir Samuel Crompton, 1st Baronet (8 July 1785 – 27 December 1848) was a politician in the United Kingdom. He served as a Member for Parliament for East Retford, Derby and Thirsk. He also served as Deputy Lieutenant for the North Riding of Yor ...

and the former Isabella Sophia Cathcart (second daughter of the Rev. Hon. Archibald Hamilton Cathcart, third son of

Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart Lieutenant-General Charles Schaw Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart, KT (21 March 1721 – 14 August 1776) was a British soldier and diplomat. He was also chief of the Clan Cathcart. Biography The son of Charles Cathcart, 8th Lord Cathcart, and M ...

). Together, they were the parents of five sons and six daughters, including: * Hon. Isabel Cathcart (1851–1856), who died young. * Alan Cathcart, 4th Earl Cathcart (1856–1911), who died unmarried. * Lady Cecilia Cathcart (1857–1932), who married Capt. Edward Temple Rose, third son of

Sir John Rose, 1st Baronet Sir John Rose, 1st Baronet (2 August 1820 – 24 August 1888) was a Scots-Quebecer politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada and the Executive Council of the Province of Canada. After Confederation, h ...

, in 1883. * Hon. Charles Cathcart (1858–1880), a Lieutenant who died unmarried. *

George Cathcart, 5th Earl Cathcart George Cathcart, 5th Earl Cathcart (26 June 1862 – 19 November 1927), styled Lord Greenock until 1911, was a British Army officer and peer. Early life Cathcart was born on 26 June 1862. He was third of five sons, and six daughters, born to Ala ...

(1862–1927) * Lady Ida Cathcart (1866–1929), who married Sir Thomas Hare, 1st Baronet, in 1886. * Lady Marion Cathcart (1867–1955) * Lady Emily Cathcart (1868–1960) * Hon. Reginald Cathcart (1870–1900), a Captain who served in the

Second Boer War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...

and was killed at the

Relief of Ladysmith When the Second Boer War broke out on 11 October 1899, the Boers had a numeric superiority within Southern Africa. They quickly invaded the British territory and laid siege to Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking. Britain meanwhile transported th ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. * Hon. Archibald Cathcart (1873–1955) * Lady Eva Cathcart (1874–1960) In 1894 he was awarded an Hon.

LL.D. Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early ...

by the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

References

External links

Earl of Cathcart
at the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathcart, Alan Cathcart, 3rd Earl 1828 births 1905 deaths British agriculturalists Royal Welch Fusiliers officers Earls in the Peerage of the United Kingdom