General Sir George Scovell (1774–1861) served as Lieutenant-Governor and later Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.  Today, his portrait hangs in Government House, the residence of the Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and he is buried in the Academy cemetery. 

Yet how many people that visit Sandhurst are fully aware of his incredible legacy?

General Sir George Scovell (1774–1861) remains one of the lesser-known yet most remarkable figures of the Napoleonic Wars. Born in Cirencester on 21st March 1774, he entered the British Army in 1798 as a cornet in the 4th Queen’s Own Dragoons. Although he served with distinction in several major campaigns, it was his extraordinary gift for languages and intelligence work that secured his lasting legacy.

Scovell first came to prominence during the Peninsular War, where he served on Wellington’s staff. As Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General, he proved invaluable in the field and received numerous honours, including the gold cross and the silver war medal with eight clasps. His greatest contribution, however, lay not on the battlefield but in the secret world of codes and ciphers.

Recognising his linguistic brilliance, Wellington placed Scovell in charge of the Army Guides, a diverse group of multilingual specialists recruited for their local knowledge. Their task was to intercept and decipher French communications. In 1811 the French introduced the Army of Portugal Code, a cipher of 150 numbers. Scovell cracked it within two days. Later that year they replaced it with the far more complex Great Paris Code, based on 1,400 numbers and designed to be unbreakable.

Despite Wellington’s impatience, Scovell persisted, working long hours by candlelight while still fulfilling his field duties. By December 1812 he had deciphered enough of the new code to read an intercepted letter from Joseph Bonaparte to Napoleon detailing French operations. This intelligence allowed Wellington to plan the successful Battle of Vitoria in June 1813, a major turning point in the war. Unaware that their system had been compromised, the French continued sending sensitive information in a code they believed secure.

In 1813, Scovell was appointed to raise and command the Staff Corps of Cavalry. later known as the Staff Dragoons, the first formal military police unit in the British Army. Though equipped as light dragoons, they wore red uniforms and carried out policing, escort, and occasional combat duties.

Scovell also fought at Waterloo. A cannonball tore through his cloak and killed his horse, yet he survived unscathed. For his service he received the Russian Order of St Vladimir and was later appointed Knight Commander, then Knight Grand Cross, of the Order of the Bath.

Within the Sandhurst Collection is a pair of candlesticks made from the hooves of Scovell’s horse. Sadly, it is unknown whether they were fashioned from the horse killed beneath him at Waterloo or from another mount, but whatever their origin, they remain a fascinating and unusual reminder of his service.

Also in the Sandhurst Collection is a letter from Lord Robert Edward Henry Somerset, (British Army Commander and Member of Parliament) which mentions Scovell and his incidence at the Battle of Waterloo.

The Sandhurst Collection exists to promote military tradition and ethos to the Officer Cadets and preserve the heritage of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

The Sandhurst Collection also preserves and manages the archives of the Academy since 1947 and records from the Royal Military College Sandhurst 1799-1939 and the Royal Military Academy Woolwich 1741-1939. 

Away from the battlefield, Scovell married Mary Clowes on 25 May 1805 at Manchester Cathedral. Lady Mary remained a central figure in his life throughout his long military career.. 

After the Napoleonic Wars, Scovell served as Lieutenant-Governor (1829–1837) and then Governor (1837–1856) of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Though he faced resistance from traditionalists, the post brought long-awaited recognition after years of slow promotion due to rigid class barriers.

Scovell spent his final years at Henley Park, Guildford, where he died in 1861 before being buried alongside his wife at Royal Military College Cemetery in plot 205.

Their grave will be lovingly restored as part of the New Heritage Project: Restoring the RMAS Cemetery. By supporting this project, you can help preserve the memory of General Sir George Scovell and other heroes of our history, ensuring their remarkable stories continue to inspire future generations. Make a lasting contribution today by visiting:here DONATE

Today, a memorial to Sir George Scovell stands in the Royal Memorial Chapel at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. It honours his distinguished service, highlighting his work with the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular War and at Waterloo, as well as his tenure as Governor of the College.