Portal:Gibraltar/Selected biography/7

Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt (Darmstadt 1669 - Barcelona September 13, 1705) was a Fieldmarshal in the Austrian army and conqueror of Gibraltar for the British in 1704. First he fought against the Turks under Prince Eugene of Savoy. He was present at the Battle of Mohacs. Then he joined William III of Orange in the Irish campaign. After his return he converted to Catholicism and became Generalfeldwachtmeister in the Austrian Army in 1694, at the age of 24.

In 1704, under his command 1800 Dutch and British Marines were landed near Gibraltar, took the fortress and defended it successfully against a Spanish-French siege, holding of repeated attacks. (more...)