Standish O'Grady, 2nd Viscount Guillamore

Who was Standish O'Grady, 2nd Viscount Guillamore?

Standish Darby O'Grady, 2nd Viscount Guillamore from Cahir Guillamore, County Limerick, was an Anglo-Irish politician and British Army officer.

He was a lieutenant in the 7th Hussars at the Battle of Waterloo. On 17 June 1815, he had command of the troop of the 7th Hussars on the high road from Genappe to Quatre Bras. The regiment was covering the British march from Quatre Bras to Waterloo. Sir William Dörnberg left O'Grady outside the town on the Quatre Bras road to hold in check the advancing French cavalry while the main body of the regiment proceeded in file across the narrow bridge of Genappe and up the steep street of the town. O'Grady advanced at the head of his troops as soon as the French appeared, and presented so bold a front that, after a time, they retired. When they were out of sight, he crossed the bridge at the entrance of Genappe. He took his troop at a gallop through the town, rejoining Sir William Dörnberg, who had drawn up the main body of the regiment on the sloping road at the Waterloo end of Genappe. A severe cavalry combat ensued when the French lancers reached the top of the town, in which O'Grady's regiment made a gallant charge, with considerable loss.