Recruitment in the British Army from families with a military tradition. (This contrasted with the Navy, whose officers were more often from a middle-class background.) The second son of King George III, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, did much to improve the standard of officer recruitment from his position as Commander in Chief of the Army (from 1795 to 1809, then from 1811 to 1827). The sale of commissions, finally abolished in the Cardwell reforms in 1868–1874, and the further Childers Reforms. In spite of its abolition, the status of an officer being from a privileged background and that of another rank being
George Milner (British Army officer) May 1801 he was appointed major in the 3rd Guards, and lieutenant-colonel in January 1806, after which he retired. He was given the brevet rank of lieutenant-general in 1808, and full general in 1819. He died in 1836. George Milner (British Army officer) General George Milner (1760–1836) was a general officer of the British Army during the late eighteenth century. He was the son of Sir William Milner, 2nd Baronet. In 1776, he was appointed an ensign in the 3rd Foot Guards, purchasing his lieutenancy (nominal rank of captain) in 1778 and captaincy (nominal rank of lieutenant-colonel) in 1792. He