George Munro Carmichael-Smyth was the last commanding officer of the 3rd BLC. An unpopular officer, he was responsible for the mutiny of the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry at Meerut on 10 May 1857, because of his heavy-handed treatment of the skirmishers in the regiment. He was born on 18 Sep 1803 the son of Dr James Carmichael (1742-1821) a Scottish doctor and physician to George III. His mother was Mary Holyland. His elder brother was Sir James Carmichael-Smyth 1st Bt, 24th Chief of the name and Arms of Carmichael, who was on Wellington’s staff at Waterloo. Another elder brother was Charles Montauban Carmichael who was also an officer in the 3rd BLC and became CO in 1839.
George joined the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry in 1819 and was promoted to captain on 24 July 1828. Promoted lieutenant-colonel on 3 May 1856. He survived the Mutiny, and was later criticised for quitting the scene instead of ‘going down with the ship’. He was promoted to major-general. He married firstly Jane Ross, with whom he had 3 sons, and secondly Celia Black Hamilton in 1879. He died on 29 April 1890.
