White, Sir George Stuart

White, Sir George Stuart, 1835–1912, British field marshal. He first achieved distinction in the Afghan War of 1878–80. In Myanmar (1885–87), where he was knighted in 1886, in Baluchistan (1889–93), and later as commander in chief in India (1893–98), he was an instrument of Great Britain's "forward" policy of combating any Russian advance toward India by aggressive campaigns, military and diplomatic, in the borderlands. His greatest fame came in the South African War when he defended Ladysmith against a 118-day siege by the Boers (1899–1900). He became governor of Gibraltar (1900–1904) and was made field marshal in 1903.