[clintonh8r]

"The very model of a modern major-general." Major-general was the highest rank to which an officer might aspire to in the last century

Whenever I read something that blatantly inaccurate it always calls into question the rest of the piece. A major general is two stars...There were hundreds of three star (lieutenant general) and four star (general) officers in the 20th century (which was the "last century"), and even a few five stars. (I'm including admirals as well as generals...all flag officers).

[Uri’el-2012]

Whenever I read something that blatantly inaccurate it always calls into question the rest of the piece.

My understanding is that when G&S wrote,
a Major General was the highest rank achievable.