Other meanings of James Yorke Scarlett
Military & Politics
General James Yorke Scarlett (1799–1871) was a British Army officer and Conservative politician, best remembered for leading the Heavy Brigade charge at the Battle of Balaclava in 1854. His victory contrasted with the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade, and he later served as commander-in-chief in Ireland.
James Yorke Scarlett was born on 5 February 1799 in London, the second son of Robert Scarlett, 1st Baron Abinger, a prominent lawyer and politician. Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, he initially pursued a legal career before purchasing a commission in the 18th Hussars in 1818. His early service included a posting to India, where he gained a reputation for administrative competence. In 1837, he entered Parliament as Conservative MP for Guildford, a seat he held until 1841, but his military ambitions remained primary. He rose steadily through the ranks, becoming a colonel in 1846 and a major-general in 1854, just before the outbreak of the Crimean War.1
Scarlett's defining moment came on 25 October 1854 at the Battle of Balaclava, where he commanded the Heavy Brigade of cavalry. When a large Russian cavalry force threatened the British base, Scarlett ordered a charge up a hill, leading his men personally despite being over 50 years old.2 The Heavy Brigade, though outnumbered, broke the Russian formation in a fierce melee, forcing them to retreat. The action was later praised as a brilliant tactical success, especially in contrast to the subsequent Charge of the Light Brigade, which ended in heavy losses. Scarlett's leadership was credited with saving the British position, and he was awarded the KCB for his conduct.3
After the Crimean War, Scarlett continued to serve with distinction. He was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1857 and appointed commander-in-chief of British forces in Ireland in 1860, a post he held until 1865. In 1868, he was made a full general and received the GCB. Scarlett never married and died on 6 December 1871 at his home in London. His legacy is often overshadowed by the Light Brigade, but military historians note that his charge was a rare example of successful cavalry action in the war. A memorial plaque in St Paul's Cathedral commemorates his service.
Scarlett's charge was the subject of a famous painting by Richard Caton Woodville, but few know that he was nearly killed by a Russian lance during the melee.4 He was also a noted reformer: as commander in Ireland, he improved soldier welfare and training. His brother, Peter Campbell Scarlett, was a diplomat, and his father's legal career influenced his early life. Scarlett's tactical decisions at Balaclava were later studied at staff colleges, and his report on the battle remains a primary source for historians.5
Scarlett's charge is often cited as a model of cavalry leadership, but his later administrative work in Ireland is less remembered.
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