Sackville, George (1716-1785)

British soldier and politician. He served creditably at the battles of Dettingen in 1743 and Fontenoy in 1745 but then at the Battle of Minden, where he commanded the British forces under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, he failed to execute the Prince's repeated order to charge. He was court-martialled, disgraced, and adjudged incapable of serving thereafter in any military capacity. After the death of George II, he returned to public life, and sat in Parliament from 1761-82. He was made secretary of state for the colonies in 1775. In 1782 he retired from office, having been raised to the peerage with the titles of Viscount Sackville and Baron of Bolebrook. Sackville was born in London, England.