Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/M'Carthy, Charles
M'CARTHY, Sir CHARLES (1770?–1824), governor of Sierra Leone, one of the ancient Irish sept of the name, was second son of John Gabriel MacCarthy (born in 1737, and living in 1812), and great-grandson of Michael MacCarthy, who went to France with James II (and died at Caen in 1744, aged 71). An uncle, Charles Thaddeus François MacCarthy, knight of St. Louis, was an officer of the guards of Louis XV, and afterwards a captain of British foot; and many other members of the family were in the French army. When the Irish brigade, formerly in the service of France, was reorganised in British pay, after the revolution, M'Carthy was appointed (1 Oct. 1794) ensign in the regiment of James Henry, count Conway, afterwards called the 5th regiment of the Irish brigade, with which he served in the West Indies, becoming lieutenant in it 31 Dec. 1795, and captain 1 Oct. 1796. In 1800 he was appointed captain 52nd foot, and 14 April 1804 major in the New Brunswick fencibles, afterwards the old 104th foot (disbanded in 1816), of which fine body of backwoodsmen he was several years in personal command. On 30 May 1811 he was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel royal African corps, and the year after was made governor of Sierra Leone. When Cape Coast Castle was taken out of the hands of the African Company [see under Bowdich, Thomas Edward, 1790–1824], M'Carthy was sent to assume the government there as well. On 22 Nov. 1820 he was knighted, and in 1821 attained the rank of colonel. About Christmas 1823, M'Carthy received tidings that the Ashantees, incensed at the protection afforded to the Fantees, were moving down in force against Cape Coast. After arranging for a defence of the settlement by native auxiliaries, M'Carthy started on 10 Jan. 1824, with a small advanced force, consisting of a company of the royal Africans, and some colonial militia and volunteers. The little force, exhausted with marching in the heavy rains, and having expended its ammunition, was routed by an overwhelming force of Ashantees on 21 Jan. 1824; M'Carthy was mortally wounded, and his head taken as a war-trophy by the Ashantees. His efforts to advance the cause of Christianity and civilisation in Africa increased the regret generally felt for his tragic end. M'Carthy's elder brother was born in 1765, and was a captain in the Irish brigade in the French service. He died unmarried, and was buried at Liège in 1793. A sister married Charles François, count Fontaine de Morvé, and died without issue.
[Carewe MSS. 626, 4, in Lambeth Palace library, and continuation of Pedigree by Sir William Betham; Bishop Daniel MacCarthy's Pedigree of the Sliochd Feidhlimidh (Exeter, 1880?); Bouillon's Correspondence relating to French Émigré Officers, in Home Office Records; London Gazettes and Army Lists, under dates; Ann. Reg. 1824, pp. 124–36; Rickett's Hist. of the Ashantee War, Lond. 1831; Gent. Mag. 1824, ii. 277.]