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General Sir George Higginson GCB GCVO KCB General Sir George Wentworth Alexander Higginson,
G.C.B., became colonel of the Regiment in 1893. Born on 21st June 1826, he joined the Grenadier Guards in 1845 and
served as Adjutant in the Crimean War. In Lady Butler’s well-known picture, “The Roll Call,” it is Higginson who figures in the
foreground. |
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Most notably he spent time in America during the American Civil War. His American connections date back 400 years to the witch hunting town of Salem. His family descends from the brother of the famous Francis Higginson, the dissenting vicar of Claybrooke, who became minister of the infamous Massachusetts town in 1629. |
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Having served more than 30 years in the Grenadiers in 1882, the General was ordered to assist in the now defunct Royal Tournament. His promotion to general followed his appointment to the command of the Brigade of Guards. From 1888 to 1893 the General was the Lieutenant Governor of the Tower of London, when he then became the colonel of the Worcestershire Regiment. The general became a personal friend of the Royal Family including Prince Albert but was more
close to Edward VII. Together the general and Edward were part of a committee set up to create a
home for 'homeless and friendless lads'. The home remained of close personal interest to the general
and in his autobiography, '71 Years of a Guardsman's Life', he quotes a letter of support from
Florence Nightingale. |
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General Higginson (Vanity Fair prints) |
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His funeral was reported as being the grandest affair Marlow had ever seen. Flags in the town were
all at half-mast, shops were shut and blinds were drawn. Hundreds of people lined the route of the
funeral procession. Eight guardsmen in full uniform escorted the coffin, on top of which lay the
general's sword and plumed hat, to his final resting place at All Saints Church on the riverside. |