Cardigan, James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of

Cardigan, James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of (1797-1868), British army officer, born in Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, and educated at the University of Oxford. Cardigan was a member of the House of Commons from 1818 to 1829 and entered the army in 1824. He was forced to resign his first command in 1834, however, for dictatorial behaviour towards a subordinate officer. In 1836 he was able to secure command of a unit later known as the 11th Hussars. As commander of a light cavalry brigade in the Crimean War, he led the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava on October 25, 1854. The British brigade was virtually annihilated by the Russians. Cardigan survived the battle, was acclaimed a hero, and became a lieutenant general in 1861. The knitted jacket he used to wear in the Crimea is named “cardigan” after him.