Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere

The Viscount Combermere
Governor of Barbados
In office
1817–1820
MonarchGeorge III
Preceded byJohn Foster Alleyne (acting)
Succeeded byJohn Brathwaite Skeete (acting)
Personal details
Born14 November 1773
Lleweni Hall, Denbighshire
Died21 February 1865 (aged 91)
Clifton, Bristol, Bristol
NationalityBritish
Alma materWestminster School
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
Knight Companion of the Order of the Star of India
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1790–1830
RankField Marshal
Commands25th Light Dragoons
16th Light Dragoons
Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
Commander-in-Chief, India
Battles/warsFrench Revolutionary Wars
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
Peninsular War

Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere GCB GCH KSI PC (14 November 1773 – 21 February 1865), was a British Army officer, diplomat and politician. As a junior officer, he took part in the Flanders Campaign, in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and in the suppression of Robert Emmet's insurrection in 1803. He commanded a cavalry brigade in Sir Arthur Wellesley's Army before being given overall command of the cavalry in the latter stages of the Peninsular War. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Ireland and then Commander-in-Chief, India. In the latter role he stormed Bharatpur—a fort which previously had been deemed impregnable.