GORGEY, gErfge-I, ART H UR ( 1818— ) . An Hungarian general in the Revolution of 1848-49. Ile was born at Toporez, in the county of Szepes (Zips), January 30, 1818, received a military education, and was commissioned a lieutenant of hussars. Finding garrison life monotonous, and promotion slow, Giirgey left the army and took up the study of chemistry at Prague. He threw in his lot with the National Party in the rising against Austria in 1848, and was at first employed in the purchase of arms in Belgium. In August, 1848, he received an important com mand, and soon distinguished himself against the Croats. He exhibited great military capacity after the rout of the Hungarian army near Schwechat, in October, 1848, conducting the re treat with consummate skill. From this time he held a general command. Upon the appointment of Dembinski (q.v.) to the chief command of the Hungarian armies, Giirgey showed his dissatis faction in various ways, and it was said that his late arrival at the battle of Kapolna prevented a great Hungarian victory. After Dembinski's resignation, Giirgey was made commander-in-chief in his place, and succeeded in putting into the field an army of 40.000 men, with which he executed a brilliant advance against the Aus trians. Pest was evacuated by the enemy. the siege of Komorn was raised, and before the month of April was over the Austrians had been almost driven out of Hungary. Buda. the an cient capital of the realm, well fortified and garrisoned, had still to be taken, and for this the victorious campaign was interrupted. The city was stormed May 21st, but the three weeks' de lay proved fatal. Russia intervened in behalf of
Austria, and Radetzky sent several regiments from his victorious army in Italy. After an un successful engagement at KOmorn and a battle with the Russian main army at Waitzen (July 15th), he made his way toward the upper Theiss. The Hungarians, outnumbered by the united Aus trian and Russian armies. were gradually driven to the wall. Giirgey, after some weeks. arrived in the neighborhood of Arad with an army deci mated by continual fighting. by heavy marches, and by disease. On August 9th the army under Dembinski was vanquished in the battle of Temesvi1r. and on the 10th Giirgey was de clared dictator by a council held in the fortress of Arad. under the presidency of Kossuth. But further resistance on the part of the Hungarians was hopeless, and on the 13th Giirgey's army sur rendered at. Vililgos to General Rffiliger. the Rus sian commander. For this surrender Cargey was severely blamed and charged with treachery. but the farts are that on the day of surrender Gar gey had only 24.000 men with 140 cannon. while five armies, with more than 200,000 men and 1000 cannon. were closing in upon him from every direction. Giirgey was confined for a time at Klagenfurt, in Austria, whence lie Was re leased on parole. In 1852 he published at Leip zig Mein Leben and Wirken in Ungarn in den Jahren 1848 end 1849, a translation of which, My Life and Acts in Hungary, 1848-49, appeared in New York the same year. This was really a reply to the charge of treason to the Hungarian cause. He returned to Hungary in 1868.