George Wade Field Marshal George Wade ( 1673 – 14 March 1748 ) was a British Army officer who served in the Nine Years ' War , War of the Spanish Succession , Jacobite rising of 1715 and War of the Quadruple Alliance before leading the construction of barracks , bridges and proper roads in Scotland . He went on to be a military commander during the War of the Austrian Succession and Commander - in - Chief of the Forces during the Jacobite rising of 1745 . Early career . Born the son of Jerome Wade in Killavally , Westmeath in Ireland , Wade was commissioned into the Earl of Bath ' s Regiment on 26 December 1690 and served in Flanders in 1692 , fighting at the Battle of Steenkerque in August 1692 during the Nine Years ' War and earning a promotion to lieutenant on 10 February 1693 . He transferred to Sir Bevil Granville ' s Regiment on 19 April 1694 and was promoted to captain on 13 June 1695 . During the War of the Spanish Succession he first served under Marlborough , seeing action in Flanders at the Battle of Kaiserwerth in April 1702 , the Battle of Venlo in September 1702 , the Battle of Roermond in October 1702 and Battle of Liège also in October 1702 , gaining promotion to major on 20 March 1703 and to lieutenant colonel in October 1703 . In 1704 he joined the staff of Henri de Massue , Earl of Galway as adjutant - general in Portugal , and distinguished himself as colonel of the Huntingdon ' s Regiment during the Battle of Alcántara during which he was wounded in April 1706 . He repelled a large force of cavalry at Vila Nova and then commanded the 3rd infantry brigade during the Battle of Almansa in April 1707 . He won promotion to brigadier general on 1 January 1708 . He served as second - in - command to James Stanhope in Minorca in 1708 , leading one of the storming parties on Fort St . Philip , before returning to Spain in 1710 , where he fought at the Battle of Saragossa in August 1710 . He earned a promotion to major - general on 3 October 1714 and became commander of the British forces in Ireland in November 1714 . Wade returned home to join in the suppression of the Jacobite rising of 1715 and undertook security duties in Bath where he unearthed a haul of Jacobite weapons . He entered politics serving as Member of Parliament for Hindon in 1715 . On 19 March 1717 he became colonel of the Earl of Plymouth ' s Regiment of Horse . In 1719 he served as second in command to Viscount Cobham during the War of the Quadruple Alliance when Cobham led a force of 4 , 000 troops on a raid on the Spanish coastline which captured Vigo and occupied it for ten days before withdrawing . He became Member of Parliament for Bath in 1722 retaining the seat for 25 years . His house there is now a grade I listed building . Scotland . The government of George I sent Wade to inspect Scotland in 1724 . He recommended the construction of barracks , bridges and proper roads to assist in the control of the region and on 10 May 1725 received appointment as " Commander in Chief of His Majesty ' s forces , castles , forts and barracks in North Britain " , tasked with carrying out his own recommendations . Over the next twelve years Wade directed the construction of some of roads , plus 30 bridges ( including the Tay Bridge at Aberfeldy ) . General Wade ' s military roads linked the garrisons at Ruthven , Fort George , Fort Augustus , and Fort William . A reference in verse is said to be inscribed on a stone at the start of one of his military roads in Scotland : If you had seen this road before it was made . You would lift up your hands and bless General Wade . Wade also organised a militia named " Highland Watches " , calling on members of the landed gentry to sign up and raising the first six companies in 1725 ( three of Campbell s and one each of Fraser s , Grant s , and Munro s ) . Also in 1725 , Wade put down an insurrection after the Government attempted to extend the " Malt tax " to Scotland and enraged citizens in Glasgow drove out the military and destroyed the home of their representative in parliament . He was promoted to lieutenant general on 15 April 1727 . On 1 June 1732 he became Governor of Berwick upon Tweed and on 19 June 1733 he became Governor of Fort William , Fort George and Fort Augustus . He was promoted to general of horse on 17 July 1739 . He raised four more " highland watch " companies in 1739 : these were subsequently reorganized as the Black Watch regiment . He still had the time to sign his support to the Foundling Hospital which was established in 1739 in London . On 22 June 1742 he was appointed Lieutenant - General of the Ordnance and on 24 June 1742 he was appointed a member of the Privy Council . War of the Austrian Succession . On 17 December 1743 he became a field marshal with his appointment to the joint command of the Anglo - Austrian force in Flanders against the French in the War of the Austrian Succession . Wade organised an advance towards Lille in July 1744 but the action became stalled in the face of logistical problems . He resigned from his command in March 1745 , returning home to become Commander - in - Chief of the Forces . Jacobite rising . In October 1745 during the Jacobite rising Wade focussed his troops on Newcastle upon Tyne on the East coast of England ; however the Jacobite forces advanced from Scotland down the West coast of England via Carlisle into Lancashire and the speed of their advance left Wade scrambling . In freezing conditions and with his men starving , he failed to counter their march into England or their subsequent retreat back from Derby to Scotland ; Wade was replaced as Commander - in - Chief by Prince William , Duke of Cumberland who led the army to success at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746 . Wade received mention in a verse used as part of God Save the King circa 1745 : Lord , grant that Marshal Wade May , by thy mighty aid , Victory bring . May he sedition hush And , like a torrent , rush Rebellious Scots to crush . God save the King . Wade died , unmarried , on 14 March 1748 and is buried at Westminster Abbey where his life is recognised by a monument created by Louis - François Roubiliac .