Charles Cathcart was born in 1686, the son of Alan, 7th Lord Cathcart. His mother was Elizabeth Dalrymple, daughter of the 1st Viscount of Stair. He joined the army at the age of 17, serving in Holland. He commanded a Troop in the Scots Greys at Ramillies and was appointed brigade-major to his cousin the 2nd Earl of Stair. He was commanding officer of the Scots Greys. In the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion he fought under the Duke of Argyll and was at the battle of Sheriffmuir where he commanded the Scots Greys in an action that overthrew the left wing of the Jacobites.
He was appointed Colonel of the (9th) Regiment on 15 Feb 1717, but this only lasted 11 months. He was next appointed Colonel of the (31st) Regiment on 13 Aug 1728. but then exchanged to the (8th) Dragoons on 1 Jan 1731. Then on 7 Aug 1733 he exchanged to the King’s Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards) a post he held until his death on 20 Dec 1740.
He succeeded to the title of 8th Lord Cathcart in 1732 and was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber in 1733. He was a major-general and had been appointed to command troops on an expedition to America. He died on the Atlantic voyage and was buried in Dominica.
He was married twice, first to Marion Shaw in March 1718. They had 4 sons and 3 daughters. Marion died in 1733 and in 1739 he married Elizabeth Malyn who had been married twice before. She outlived him by 50 years.
